A man accused of murdering another man who disappeared more than a decade ago after leaving a northern NSW pub has been granted $100,000 bail.
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Bruce Anthony Coss has been in custody since the then 48-year-old was arrested in October 2019 when he was charged with murdering Bingara man Darren Royce Willis.
The 45-year-old was last seen leaving a pub in the northern NSW town, 150km north of Tamworth, on December 10, 2010.
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His body has never been found.
Cross, a longstanding member of the Bingara community, has denied having any involvement in the disappearance or death.
In the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Peter Johnson granted Coss bail, describing the case as unusual and noting the length of time he has been in custody on remand.
Further, it would be more than two years since October 2019 when a preliminary hearing will be held at Moree Local Court in November.
The judge noted it was more than 10 years since Mr Willis disappeared and the way in which witnesses have come forward in more recent times would be an issue at the Moree hearing.
His bail conditions include not going within 100km of Bingara, residing at an address in Yurunga, reporting to police daily and not taking a detour anywhere near Bingara when he travels to Moree for court appearances.
"I fully understand it," he told the judge who emphasised the latter condition.
Coss has to provide security for $100,000 which he agrees to forfeit if he fails to appear at court.
Australian Associated Press
