The health of former Kings Cross detective Roger Rogerson is ''failing'' as he awaits trial in jail for the murder of Sydney student Jamie Gao, his lawyer says.
Mr Rogerson, who turned 73 in January this year, is on remand in Silverwater Correctional Centre following his arrest in May over the alleged murder, which police say occurred when a drug deal went wrong.
His former police colleague Glen McNamara has also been charged with the murder of Mr Gao, as well as with drug offences.
Speaking outside Central Local Court, where Mr Rogerson's matter was briefly mentioned on Tuesday, his solicitor Paul Kenny said the former detective was ''ailing in jail'' and suggested he was likely to apply for bail in the coming weeks.
''He's being kept in isolation in very difficult circumstances. His health is failing,'' Mr Kenny said.
''He's not very well at all. There's a number of ailments...I'm concerned about his mental health too.
''I can't see why he can't have a wristwatch and a calendar. He didn't even have a blanket initially.''
Mr Kenny said his client would plead not guilty to the charges against him.
Earlier the court heard that after the alleged murders, police found methamphetamine in Mr McNamara's car.
''A scientific analysis of the methamphetamine allegedly found in Mr McNamara's car should be available within two weeks,'' crown prosecutor Chris Maxwell, QC, said.
The court heard that this analysis was among a number of pieces of evidence against the two accused killers, including CCTV footage, which would take between six to nine months to be ready for presentation at trial.
This footage is believed to be from a security camera in Padstow that caught some of the last movements of Mr Gao, showing him walking from his sports car on Arab Street with a bag tightly held in his right hand.
It allegedly shows three men walking into the storage shed – but only the two former police officers walk out.
Police will allege that Mr Gao took three kilograms of the drug ice, with an estimated street value of $3 million, to the prearranged meeting with Mr McNamara and Mr Rogerson.
The business student at the University of Technology was reported missing the next day.
An hour after Mr McNamara was charged with Mr Gao's murder, the young man's body was spotted by a fisherman off the coast near Cronulla. It was wrapped in blue plastic.
The court heard that the evidence against the accused also includes fingerprints and DNA from the alleged crime scene.
Mr McNamara briefly appeared via audio-visual link from prison, wishing the magistrate a curt ''good morning'' before his matter was briefly mentioned.
The matter will return to court on August 28.
