Luke Close, 33, appeared in Sydney Supreme Court on Friday, September 6 and pleaded not guilty to murder.

Charge sheets alleged between 8.30pm on Thursday, February 22 and 1am on Friday, February 23, 2018 Close murdered Garry James Welch, whose body was found by police at a St Anns Street property around 12.30pm February 23.

Officers from South Coast Police District established a crime scene around the area and carried out the investigation, centred on a townhouse which is part of a unit complex

Local detectives assisted by officers from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad formed Strike Force Maximus to investigate the 63-year-old victim's death, charging Close on February 25 with murder.

Justice Elizabeth Fullerton has set down 20 days for the trial which will be held in Nowra starting June 20 next year.

Read more: Crime/Court