The man accused of killing three of his children in a house fire he allegedly stopped them escaping will spend months more in custody before his case returns to court.
Lawyers for Dean John Heasman, 28, appeared in Penrith Local Court on Friday, three months after his children Jaxson, Dean Junior and Willow were killed in the blaze.
Heasman is facing three charges of domestic violence-related murder and five charges of attempted murder.
The attempted murder charges relate to his partner Stacey Gammage and four children aged 11, nine, seven and four who were all treated in hospital after the incident.
Heasman, who remains in custody, had his case swiftly adjourned with no application for bail.
He is due back in court on February 14 for charge certification.
Police allege Heasman locked the doors to his Lalor Park house in Sydney's west and used petrol to accelerate a huge blaze on July 7, preventing officers and neighbours from freeing the victims.
Rescuers allegedly had to wrestle children from his grasp once they forced their way into the home.
Investigators previously said they believed the incident was triggered by a domestic dispute that dramatically escalated.
He had no prior criminal record and he had only previously been before the court on tax-related matters.
Heasman did not appear during his first court date in July after being left in a coma due to severe burns and smoke inhalation he suffered in the blaze.
He is also accused of destroying or damaging property with the intent of endangering life.
A welfare check triggered by a concerned neighbour led to a police call-out to the property weeks before the fire, but no issues were identified at the time.
Ms Gammage, the mother of the three dead children, has recovered physically after the fire and has completed a walk-through of the crime scene with police.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
