Elderly Vic man denies murdering wife

An elderly man accused of killing his wife in Melbourne has pleaded not guilty to her murder amid concerns about his fitness to stand trial.

Semso Kraisnik, 77, on Tuesday denied murdering Ivanka Kraisnik at their Patterson Lakes home on April 23.

"I'm not guilty in any way," he told Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link through a Polish interpreter.

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg has ordered Kraisnik to face trial in the Victorian Supreme Court.

He said the higher court had the proper jurisdiction to deal with concerns about the 77-year-old's mental state.

"It's more fitness to plead than impairment," Mr Rozencwajg said.

"Either way it's a matter for the Supreme Court."

Kraisnik told the magistrate he was too ill to attend a directions hearing in the higher court.

"I'm a sick person, I can't come to court," he said.

Kraisnik has been ordered to appear before the Victorian Supreme Court via video link on Wednesday.