Sydney man faces court over wife's murder

A 73-year-old man is behind bars after being charged with the stabbing murder of his wife in their western Sydney home.

Vincenzo Coluccio did not apply for bail and it was formally refused when his matter was briefly mentioned in Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday.

Coluccio had attended Merrylands police station late on Monday night and was taken into custody after a conversation with officers.

Detectives went to the couple's Merrylands home, where they found the body of Coluccio's 63-year-old wife, who had suffered a stab wound to her chest.

Police took Coluccio to Granville police station, where he was charged with murder.

He did not enter a plea on Tuesday and is due back in Fairfield Local Court on April 3.

Forensic officers were examining the home on Tuesday, while detectives canvassed the area and interviewed residents.

A neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said the couple always kept to themselves and she never heard a raised voice from them.

"It's absolutely shocking," she told AAP on Tuesday.

"It's always been a quiet street."