Blood found on an item in a dead woman's handbag provided the DNA breakthrough that led to an arrest in an Adelaide cold case murder, a court has heard.
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Details of the case against Ballarat man Matthew Donald Tilley were outlined in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday as the 46-year-old applied to be released on bail.
Tilley has been accused of the brutal killing of Suzanne Poll in 1993 with the 36-year-old suffering about 40 stab wounds, including some in her back which penetrated through her chest.
Tilley was extradited from Ballarat to South Australia almost two weeks ago after the DNA breakthrough which used the latest analysis techniques to link him to the murder.
Prosecutor Carmen Matteo told the court that it was alleged the killer was injured during the attack and as well as leaving blood behind in Mrs Poll's handbag there was also blood on a filing cabinet and a door.
She said the case against Tilley was strong and opposed any form of bail, including home detention.
Mrs Poll, a mother of two, was stabbed to death while working at the Salisbury Sands & McDougall store during what police believe was a robbery-gone-wrong.
The lights were off and the shop was shut but the front door remained ajar while the 36-year-old counted the day's takings.
A man entered and attacked Mrs Poll, who tried to escape through a back room but was stabbed to death in what police said was a vicious and sustained killing.
Ms Matteo told the court that because the allegations against Tilley were so serious, there was an inherent risk he would abscond.
But Craig Caldicott, for the accused, said there was no suggestion he would flee and family members were willing to put up $50,000 in guarantees.
He said Tilley only expected to be released on home detention with electronic monitoring which would prevent him moving more than eight metres from his brother's house.
Mr Caldicott said there were also no allegations of any offending by Tilley before or after the alleged murder and his client intended to plead not guilty to the murder charge.
With the case not returning to court until September next year, a trial could be two years away and he said it would be unfair to keep Tilley in custody for so long.
Magistrate Simon Smart urged prosecutors to supply material to the defence as soon as possible to help progress the case but said the seriousness of the allegations outweighed any presumption of bail and refused the application.
Outside the court, Mr Caldicott said he would appeal to the Supreme Court.
-AAP
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