Accused baby murderer pleads not guilty

A 26-year-old West Australian man has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting and murdering a baby boy.

Mervyn Kenneth Douglas Bell appeared in Perth's Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Monday, via videolink from Albany Regional Prison, accused of murdering the 10-month-old and sexually assaulting him on March 20 last year.

Bell was charged after the infant was found seriously injured at Fortescue Roadhouse near Karratha in the state's north.

The victim died on the way to hospital.

A three-week trial in Perth has been listed to start on August 18.