THE man charged with murdering backpacker Caroline Stuttle will face a pre-trial hearing in September, an Australian court has ruled.

Ian Douglas Previte, 30, will appear before Bundaberg Magistrates' Court for a four-day hearing that will determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to a murder trial.

Mr Previte, who has yet to enter a plea, is being held in custody until the hearing, which will take place between September 9 to 13.

Caroline's body was found on April 10 last year, under Bundaberg's Burnett River Bridge, 220 miles north of Brisbane.

The 19-year-old, from York, had arrived in Bundaberg with a female friend a few days earlier to earn money picking tomatoes.

Police said she was attacked while walking to the trailer park where they were staying. She died from severe head injuries and spinal damage.

Detectives believe Caroline was robbed and then pushed or fell 30ft from the bridge.

In November, her handbag was found in a field about a mile-and-a-half away from where she was killed.

Mr Previte was charged in February.