David John Peter Brown, 46, was due to face Wollongong Local Court via videolink on Wednesday charged with murdering his 52-year-old sister, Therese Ann Brown, at Bulli earlier this month.

But the court heard Brown was being treated in Long Bay Prison Hospital and was not well enough to appear on screen.

Medical documentation from the prison hospital was tendered in court along with a medical certificate.

Brown was arrested after he staggered out of his car and walked into Gladesville Police Station at 5.30am on January 3 to tell officers his sister was dead in her Bulli home, 70kilometres away.

The heavily-bleeding man was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital under police guard for treatment to a stab wound to the chest.

His sister’s body was discovered by local police shortly afterwards.

He was charged with murder five days later by detectives at the hospital before he was taken into custody.

Police allege he murdered his sister some time between midnight and 5.30am on January 3, court papers said.

Brown’s legal aid lawyer, Gareth Leo, did not apply for bail on his client’s behalf and it was formally refused.

His case was adjourned to March 5, with Magistrate Michael Stoddart saying he would hopefully be well enough to face court via videolink then.