One of Australia's leading criminal defence barristers will represent the man accused of a break-in murder in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton, and says he will "expedite" an application to release the 33-year-old from jail.

Top Sydney silk Winston Terracini SC and barrister Brian Murray visited Benjamin Batterham at Cessnock Correctional Centre on Tuesday, a day after taking over the high-profile murder case.

Mr Batterham, an apprentice chef, is alleged to have murdered Ricky Slater-Dickson after he discovered Mr Slater-Dickson inside his Cleary Street home about 3.30am on March 26.