A 20-year-old man has told a Newcastle court "I'm a murderer" during his first appearance after being charged over the death of his girlfriend.
Jordan Brodie Miller was arrested about 1:30am yesterday after 18-year-old Emerald Wardle was found dead inside a home near Maitland in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
He was charged with murder and appeared via audiovisual link in Newcastle bail court today.
While a suppression order was being argued, Mr Miller interrupted and said: "I'm a murderer, I'm a murderer."
When told to stop speaking by his solicitor and the registrar, Mr Miller continued talking and the link was disconnected.
Mr Miller has been ordered to undergo a physical and psychological assessment.
No application for bail was made and it was formally refused.
The matter has been adjourned to Maitland Local Court on Wednesday.
Police attended the home of the pair on Galway Crescent in Metford on Saturday morning and spoke to Mr Miller in the front yard.
After what police described as a "short scuffle", Mr Miller was arrested.
The body of Ms Wardle was found in the home.
Police have not yet confirmed the cause of death.
A neighbour described Ms Wardle as "a lovely girl" from the "small, loving, quiet neighbourhood".
Local police said domestic violence did not discriminate on age.
