New trial for accused murderer Xie

Accused murderer Lian Bin 'Robert' Xie will face his third trial for the killings of five members of his family next year.

Xie is accused of killing his brother-in-law Min Lin, Mr Lin's wife Lily Lin, their young sons Henry and Terry, and Lily's sister, Irene Lin in North Epping in the early hours of July 18, 2009.

Xie's new trial will begin on February 2 before Justice Elizabeth Fullerton.

The trial is expected to last six months.

On September 23, the jury in the high-profile murder trial was discharged when it was announced Justice Peter Johnson too unwell to continue to oversee it.

The first trial was aborted after new evidence came to light midway through.