Vic man to fight 2005 child murder charge

A Melbourne man accused of killing a toddler more than a decade ago will fight the murder charge against him, a court has heard.

The 36-year-old South Yarra man, who cannot be named, appeared in court on Tuesday charged over the death of the two-year-old girl in May 2005.

"This man contests the charge of murder," his barrister, Dermot Dann, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Mr Dann will cross-examine a number of witnesses when the case comes back in February next year.

Among them is a medical practitioner who saw the girl before she died, the court heard.

Court documents allege injuries were inflicted on the toddler on either May 12 or May 13, 2005.

"If there are injuries ... observed at a time previous to my client being on the scene, that does not become irrelevant," Mr Dann said.

About 37 people will give evidence during the 10-day contested committal hearing from February 1.

The man has been remanded in custody.

He was charged with one count of murder and other assault-related offences in May this year.