Troy Jason Ruttley appeared via video link in Tamworth Local Court from a Wellington prison on Wednesday morning and asked for an adjournment to December.

"Yes, I just don’t want [them],” he told the court.

“They didn’t do the job properly as far as I’m concerned.”

Ruttley is accused of murdering his former partner Johann Morgan between August 9 and 10, last year, in West Tamworth.

The 40-year-old mother-of-four's body still hasn’t been found despite extensive searches by police.

In front of several members of Ms Morgan’s family, as well as his own relatives, Ruttley said he had a psychiatric appointment booked later this year and wanted time after that to consider his case.

“To make sure I get it all done properly,” he said.

“I still can’t get a psych assessment done until October.”

Legal Aid solicitor Rae Parker said a colleague had been involved in the matter until Monday this week.

“Mr Ruttley has terminated his instructions,” she said.

“I don’t know what else we can do but seek Your Honour’s leave to withdraw.”

Ms Parker said a public defender from Sydney had been involved in the case, and the court heard the DPP were “about ready for committal”.

Magistrate Alison Viney said she wasn’t prepared to give a lengthy adjournment, given a public defender had been briefed already.

“I’m happy to give you an adjournment for two weeks to get some legal representation sorted,” she said.

Ruttley, 46, has been in custody since his December 21 arrest in Dubbo by Strike Force Chiltern – the police operation set up to investigate Ms Morgan’s disappearance and suspected murder.

“My view is quite clearly that Mr Ruttley needs some legal representation given the nature of the charge,” Ms Viney said.

She adjourned the case to August where she “hoped on that occasion the matter would be committed to the supreme court”.

“You will need to make some very quick enquiries about who will represent you,” she told Ruttley.

Ruttley, who is yet to make a release application, was formally refused bail.