Acting Justice David Patten, a retired District Court judge, was ordered to review Ngo's conviction after an ABC Four Corner's program raised questions about the reliability of certain evidence about the mobile phone network at his trial.

Mr Newman, the Labor MP for Cabramatta, was shot at point-blank range outside his home in September 1994.

Ngo, a councillor on Fairfield Council, was convicted of involvement in the murder after one aborted trial and one hung jury.

He was jailed for life for ordering the killing, but two other men, accused of being the driver and the shooter, were acquitted.

Ngo, wearing a black suit, white shirt and patterned tie, frequently looked around the small wood-pannelled courtroom in the basement of the Supreme Court building, guarded by four prison officers. He appeared to be smiling slightly, but sat quietly and listened to the proceedings.

The inquiry heard that further information will be subpoenaed from Telstra, while another expert will review the evidence relating to the reach of mobile phone towers.

Arrangements were made for all parties to receive copies of transcripts of the last trial - 15 volumes of documents - the inquest into Mr Newman's death, and other material.

Police said they had located certain exhibits from the trial at Parramatta police station and were liasing with the DPP to find other exhibits, which might have been kept by the DPP after Ngo's trial.

The review was ordered by Chief Justice James Spigelman after Ngo's supporters raised three grounds of concern: concerns about the evidence about mobile phone coverage; doubts about the independence of two witnesses; and the alleged failure to provide certain evidence to Ngo's defence.

The inquiry was adjourned for a further directions hearing on August 27.