Socialite murder trial set for late 2017

The former partner of Brisbane socialite Maureen Boyce could stand trial for her murder later this year.

Ms Boyce was found dead at her Kangaroo Point unit on October 22, 2015 with a knife embedded in her stomach.

Her friend Thomas Chris Lang, 64, was charged with murder the following day.

Lang, who has been in custody since his arrest, denies killing the 68-year-old and contends she may have taken her own life.

The Brisbane Supreme Court heard on Wednesday that Lang's trial would take between 10 to 15 days but could not be heard until after September this year.

The court also heard that of the 87 witnesses that had been interviewed as part of the investigation, about 40 of them were likely to be called during the trial.

Lang's case will return to court on March 31 for a review.