Two men were refused bail last week over the fatal bashing of Mr Angelos Kaloudis, a 76-year-old homeless man, during a train journey from Newcastle to Sydney.
Nathan Isherwood, 28, and Harley Page, 22 appeared separately in courts in Newcastle and Toronto charged with murder and aggravated assault with intent to rob.
Mr Kaloudis boarded the Sydney-bound train before it departed Newcastle at 3:59am (AEST) on Friday August 26. He was found by fellow passengers lying in a pool of blood with severe head injuries after the train left Cardiff station. It is alleged that his attackers undertook the assault between 4.20 and 4.29am as the train approached Fassifern.
Mr Kaloudis, who it is believed has no close family in Australia, was rushed to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital but died on Saturday night.
Magistrate John Chicken noted the serious nature of the offence and said court proceedings would be a drawn out process. The court heard that the accused were facing unrelated charges: Isherwood, for an assault on three men in Newcastle less than a month before the train attack, and Page for a robbery charge from January and an assault earlier in August.
ABC Radio Newcastle reported that as he was led from the dock, Page waved to his family sitting in the court and mouthed to them he needed money.
Police have released security camera footage showing Mr Kaloudis on the platform at Newcastle before the train departed. It is believed he may have caught the train to escape the cold. The trial will continue in October.