The Australian police have filed an 11th murder charge against Roger Dean, a nurse who allegedly set fire to a nursing home in Sydney last year.

A number of Maltese emigrants were among the residents of the home, with two losing their life - Caesar Galea 82, and Emmanuela Cachia, 75.

The latest murder charge was laid  over the death of 90-year-old resident Neeltje Valkay from smoke inhalation. She died a few days after the fire. 

Her daughter, Elly, faced the accused in court  and said she also felt a sense of closure.

"From the family, we'd like to thank the police for their diligence and their hard work to actually find out what caused Mum's death," she told Australia's ABC News.

"We've been in suspended animation. Mum's name was always in limbo. Now that it's official, it's a full stop behind it."

Also in court was Anthony Cachia, whose grandmother Emmanuela, died some time after the blaze, having also suffered smoke inhalation, although no charges have been filed yet in connection with her death.

He sat in court with his father, three siblings and their partners.

He said it was the first time he saw Dean in person.

"I felt a lot of anger, a lot of anger built up," he said.

"And it was my father's mother so seeing him upset as well brings a lot of anger to seeing [Dean] there pleading not guilty - it's too many emotions, too many emotions."

A trial date has been set for May.