Most-wanted man refused bail in Newcastle

An accused murderer who spent almost a month on the run will remain behind bars after a brief court appearance.

Anthony Richard Dent, 53, was put on the state's most-wanted list shortly after the body of 52-year-old Anthony Thomas O'Grady was discovered half-naked and hog-tied on a cricket oval at Wickham, in Newcastle, in March.

Dent was arrested on Monday in Cessnock in the Hunter region and charged with O'Grady's murder, police said.

At Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday, Dent did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused.

He is due to reappear in June.