West Victorian man Robert Beck has faced Horsham Magistrates' Court charged with one count of murder following the discovery of an elderly man's body in the small town of Jung on Monday.
The Minyip man appeared in the dock before Magistrate Timothy Hoare, dressed in a black hoodie and sitting alongside three police officers.
Mr Beck was visibly agitated during the hearing, his heavy breathing audible from the far corner of the court room.
At one point, Mr Beck slid off his bench in the dock and hid out of view, on the ground, before police directed him back to his seat.
The police prosecutor opposed Mr Beck's bail application and the magistrate denied it.
The police prosecutor told the court there was evidence to suggest the deceased man sustained 24 injuries.
She also told the court there was significant forensic analysis to be completed on material, including Mr Beck's phone.
The prosecutor requested 12 weeks for forensic analysts to inspect the material, but the magistrate instructed said the work should only require eight weeks.
Mental health disorders
Magistrate Hoare made a range of directions to the police prosecution, including arranging CCTV and other footage to be compatible with the court system, lodging requests for digital forensic analysis, and seeking a DNA case summary within seven days.
Defence lawyer Gemma Ross-McGlynn told the court Mr Beck had diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.
Ms McGlynn told the court Mr Beck required an assessment for medication while in custody.
Mr Beck stared intently at the prosecutor while she spoke, breaking eye contact to look at the media present in court.
The matter will next be heard in the Supreme Court in July.