Former NSW police detective Gary Jubelin says he's "putting his faith in the courts" as he fights allegations he broke the law while leading the search for missing three-year-old William Tyrrell.
Jubelin, who quit the force during an internal investigation into the matter, has pleaded not guilty to four charges of illegally recording phone conversations.
He appeared on Tuesday before magistrate Ross Hudson at Downing Centre Local Court and his matter was adjourned until January 24.
His five-day hearing will be held from February 3.
"I've maintained from the outset that I had a lawful right and operational need to record the conversations I did," Jubelin told reporters outside court.
"Those conversations were recorded specifically for me carrying out my duty in investigating the disappearance of William Tyrrell.
"I'm now putting my faith in the courts. I'm looking forward to the full facts coming out in the hearing set down for the 3rd of February."
Before quitting his post as detective chief inspector, Jubelin led a team that re-examined several unsolved and suspected murders, including that of Tyrrell.
The boy was playing in his foster grandmother's yard at Kendall on the NSW mid-north coast when he vanished in September 2014.
He has never been located.
Jubelin allegedly illegally recorded a short private conversation in late 2017 from Parramatta and made three further illegal recordings in 2018 in Kendall.
Each offence carries a maximum of five years in jail and a fine of $11,000.
The prosecution on Tuesday said they wished to present to the hearing additional recordings taken by Jubelin which were not subject to charges.
The prosecution told the court this evidence would demonstrate Jubelin's "tendency" to illegally record phone conversations.
"The Crown will be serving a tendency notice in relation to at least one of those recordings," Crown prosecutor Philip Hogan said.
Eight witnesses will also be called for Jubelin's hearing.
Australian Associated Press
