Court case against teenager accused of killing former AFL club staffer and national handball coach is hit by setback

The case against a man accused of killing an AFL team's former massage therapist will continue beyond his last appearance in 2024.

Patrik Weiss, 45, was found dead at his home in Perth's northeastern suburb of Lockridge on June 12.

The former West Coast Eagles soft tissue therapist was also the former coach of the Australian men's beach handball team.

Alexander Mark Sutton, 19, was charged over the alleged murder of Mr Weiss and appeared briefly at the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court in Perth on Wednesday via video link from Hakea Prison.

His lawyer, Katherine Dowling, asked for a 12-week adjournment as they were still awaiting the results of a report.

Former West Coast Eagles physio Patrik Weiss was found dead in Perth earlier this year

A 19-year-old has been accused of murdering the former national handball coach

Prosecutor Sean Stocks told the court that 16 weeks might be more appropriate, but the case was adjourned until February 7 for what the magistrate described as a 'health check' of the case, after which a new date would be set.

The death of Mr Weiss, a father of two, prompted Western Australian police to launch Operation Bulb.

Handball Australia released a statement in the days following Mr Weiss' death, expressing their 'deepest condolences to his young family and his parents at this heartbreaking time'.

“We greatly appreciate all he has contributed to the development of our players and our wider community and thank his family for their support,” the statement said.

'He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Nine News reported at the time that Mr Weiss was found seriously injured, with his hands tied and wearing a blindfold.