Iusi Afele sat silently in the dock while a charge of murder was read out against him.

The 40-year-old Bathurst man was held in police custody overnight before his court appearance yesterday.

Afele is charged with the murder of 49-year-old Bathurst man Steven Michael Chesworth following an alleged disturbance in a block of flats in Rocket Street on Tuesday morning in which Mr Chesworth was allegedly stabbed in the chest.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene after receiving a triple-0 call just before 8.30am but, despite their best efforts to save Mr Chesworth, he died as a result of his injuries at the scene.

Wearing a red t-shirt, shorts and an unbuttoned black flannelette shirt, Afele sat handcuffed in the dock during yesterday’s brief hearing before registrar of the court Mr Hindmarsh.

For the official court record, police prosecutor Sergeant Beau Riley read the charge that Iusi Afele, between 8.25am and 9am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at Bathurst, did murder Steven Michael Chesworth.

Sergeant Riley then told the court bail would be opposed by the police.

Afele’s solicitor Shane Cunningham told the court his client was not applying for bail, and asked the matter be adjourned to Bathurst Local Court on Monday, March 11.

Mr Hindmarsh noted police had earlier refused bail, and there was a presumption against it.

He also noted the serious nature of the charge, which is punishable by life imprisonment.

Mr Hindmarsh formally refused bail and adjourned the matter to Bathurst Local Court on Monday, March 11, 2013.