Murder accused appears in Gold Coast court

An Australian man charged with the murder of New Zealand singer Tony Williams has made a brief appearance in court on the Gold Coast.

Matthew Cox, 24, from Port Macquarie, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday.

He allegedly killed Mr Williams, 37, whose battered body was found in his unit in Mermaid Waters, south of Brisbane, in December last year.

Cox's lawyer Lisa Searing requested the case be adjourned to May 18.

He was transported to the Arthur Gorrie Correction Centre and will appear via videolink in May, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Detective Inspector Brian Swan from Gold Coast CIB said during the three-month investigation he had kept in regular contact with Mr Williams's parents in New Zealand, and "they're very happy with this breakthrough".

"They understand there's still a long way to go and a judicial process that now must be followed," he told reporters on Friday.

Police have refused to comment on suggestions Mr Williams, a hospital orderly, who worked after hours as a singer in the Maori R&B band Sex 'N' Chocolate, had been involved in a love triangle.

-AAP