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MidWest murder accused to plead not guilty

A 65-year-old man accused of murdering a younger man during an argument at a small settlement in Western Australia's Mid West region on New Year's Eve intends to fight the charge.

Lance William Joinbee appeared in Perth's Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday via videolink from Greenough Regional Prison, charged with murdering 33-year-old Nigel Stuart Egan near Kalbarri on December 31.

Joinbee's lawyer said the matter was ready to be committed to the West Australian Supreme Court for trial because his client intended to plead not guilty.

He will next face court on September 15 for a status conference.

Police allege Joinbee stabbed the victim during an altercation.

He was originally charged with grievous bodily harm but the charge was upgraded to murder following a post-mortem.