They appeared before Justice Graham Panckhurst (sitting in Christchurch) via a video-conference link from the High Court at Dunedin this morning.
Steven Kenneth Boskell (18), Jacob Christopher Geary-Smart (22), Ryan Warren Geary-Smart (23), and Robert James Cummings (22), were jointly charged with murdering the 35-year-old at his Pine Hill Rd house on September 11.
This morning Justice Panckhurst asked for indications of pleas from each of the accused's lawyers.
Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, acting for Jacob Geary-Smart, entered a plea of not guilty and the others followed suit.
Jacob's brother Ryan was represented by David More, Cummings was represented by Anne Stevens and Boskell by John Westgate.
Interim suppression orders for Jacob and Cummings were lifted, after Mrs Ablett-Kerr QC and Mrs Stevens said they would not apply for the continued suppression of their client's names, as there was no reason to.
The four accused were remanded in custody by Justice Panckhurst to December 3, when a case review was set to be heard in Dunedin.
Mr Westgate has applied for Boskell to be remanded on electronically-monitored bail, the hearing for which was set to be held in Dunedin on October 25.
Mr More said he also planned to apply for electronically-monitored bail for Ryan, and it was possible that application would be heard at the same time.
No other applications for bail were made.
Crown solicitor Andrew McRae said the police investigation of McFarlane's death was ongoing and there was still disclosure to be made.
