Alleged wife killer Brian Walshe returned to Norfolk Superior Court for another hearing Monday afternoon, during which the high-profile trial was finally scheduled.

Walshe, 49, of Cohasset, is accused of murdering his wife Ana Walshe and dismembering her body on New Years 2023 before hiding her body parts in dumpsters around Greater Boston.

Judge Diane Freniere scheduled the trial, which lawyers anticipate will take about four weeks on a full day schedule, for late October, getting jurors hopefully finished by the holidays.

Lawyers cited the “extremely complicated” details of the case including 27,000 pages of documents, hours of video surveillance and forensic testing in estimating the time it will take them to prepare for the case.

“Say two and a half years, it’s time to go, and that’s what I’m suggesting,” said Freniere.

Among a series of motions Monday, the judge heard motions to uncover messages from state and local police involved in the investigation, an effort which sprung up in the wake of the Karen Read trial controversy. Both investigations involved State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, who’s highly inflammatory text messages stirred public outrage during the Read trial.

Defense attorney Larry Tipton said Monday revealing any communications is vital “given what we now know about what has and may have occurred within the ranks of the mass State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s office.”

Tipton sought communications related to three primary officers involved in the investigation from the Cohasset Police.

“To see if they have anything that comports with — who knows if they would disclose it, but I would hope they would — comports with texting, emails and cellular phone records that indicate a bias, a prejudice and a lack of professional integrity when it comes to investigating Mr. Walshe,” said Tipton.

Defense attorneys also probed into communications regarding federal investigations of State Police, specifically the lead Walshe investigator Michael Proctor, saying “the moment he stepped foot into investigating Brian Walshe in the disappearance of his wife, he knew he was under federal investigation, and so his bias, his motive, anything that his integrity, is forefront for him.”

Unsealed materials have confirmed there is a federal inquiry into the State Police’s Karen Read investigation. Prosecutors suggested they try “to work with US Attorney’s Office and see what those results are and report back to the court.”

Freniere did not rule on the motions Monday.

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Following the murder indictment, Walshe was sentenced in federal court to an unrelated international art fraud case, which he has appealed. The defendant has been detained at the Norfolk House of Correction.

Walshe is scheduled to attend a virtual hearing on more motions on Jan. 7.