A committal hearing for a man charged with murder and deprivation of liberty has heard from people who worked with him at a Darwin Immigration detention centre.

Northern Territory Police allege 36-year-old Matthew Vanko broke into a Howard Springs home in April last year, tied up a female work colleague Noelene Stevens and robbed her.

It's alleged he then killed her brother, Donald Stevens, by stabbing him in the back of the head.

At the beginning of Vanko's commital hearing, the court heard from two witnesses who worked with him at the Darwin Airport Lodge Detention Centre.

Vanko's supervisor at the detention centre told the court he made her feel uncomfortable and that he appeared to be "conniving or a little bit deceitful".

A neighbour of Ms Stevens told the court she ran over to his property and was bound at the wrists.

He said she was extremely distressed and he called the police immediately.

A total of 14 witnesses will be called in the hearing which is expected to run for four days.