Morcombes brace for long court case

SYDNEY (AAP) - The parents of missing Sunshine Coast boy Daniel Morcombe have waited eight years for the arrest of a suspect in their son's disappearance - and they're ready to wait years more for justice.
Bruce and Denise Morcombe did not travel to Brisbane on Monday for the first court appearance of a 41-year-old Perth man following his charging on Saturday with Daniel's murder.
After a court appearance that lasted mere minutes, the case in Brisbane Magistrates Court was adjourned to next month.
The accused plans to fight the charges, a portent of a lengthy legal process ahead.
The Morcombes, wearing red T-shirts that have become synonymous with their efforts to raise awareness of child abduction, braved the media in Maroochydore, near their Sunshine Coast home, to praise police investigators and thank volunteers who are searching bushland for Daniel's body.
Daniel was 13 when he was last seen in 2003 at Woombye as he waited for a bus to go Christmas shopping.
Mr Morcombe said police had worked extremely hard on the case and it was time for the family to be even more patient.
"We never expected that once a person was charged, that it will be over in a week," he said.
"We knew it would be many years ahead, and that's what we expect."
The family had stayed away from the court and kept busy working on the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Mr Morcombe said.
They plan to meet Premier Anna Bligh to discuss permanent funding for the foundation, which survives on community donations.
"We try and do things that are positive. It helps us get through the day," Mr Morcombe said.
"That's what is important to us and not seeing some dirt-bag in court."
The Morcombes are preparing to visit bushland at Beerwah where about 100 people were searching on Monday for Daniel's body.
Not far from the world-famous Australia Zoo, the site is at the end of a scrub-lined dirt road, now closed to the public, and where media wait for progress reports.
Mr Morcombe said it was important for Daniel's family to see for themselves the "muddy jungle" where his remains are thought to be.
A weeping Mrs Morcombe, who says her "last glimmer of hope" that Daniel was still living vanished with the arrest on Saturday, is steeling herself for a long court process.
"You learn to be patient," she said.
"I think over the years, you just have to."
The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with murder, deprivation of liberty, child stealing, indecent treatment of a child and interfering with a corpse.
His lawyer Tim Meehan asked for the case to be adjourned.
The straggly-haired truck driver and father of three, dressed in jeans and a prison-issue brown jumper, said nothing during the hearing.
He was remanded in custody until September 26.
Outside court, Mr Meehan told a large pack of waiting media that his client would seek bail in an application to the Supreme Court, but did not give any details.
"My client will be defending the charges," he said.
He said the accused was faring well.
"In the circumstances he's doing all right," Mr Meehan said.
The lawyer had asked for his client to be excused from appearing in the court.