Confused killer pleads 'guilty-not guilty'

An alleged killer was unable to plead guilty in a Perth court after misunderstanding what he was charged with.

Lance William Joinbee was accused of murdering 33-year-old Nigel Stuart Egan near Kalbarri in Western Australia's Mid West region on New Year's Eve.

The prosecution dropped the charge on Thursday after Joinbee agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of unlawful killing.

But when the charge was read to Joinbee, he pleaded not guilty - to the surprise of the court.

Joinbee's defence lawyer said his client was confused about the wording of the charge and didn't realise that unlawful killing and manslaughter, which he was expecting to hear, were the effectively same thing.

The case was adjourned after two more failed attempts to read the charge.

"Guilty - not guilty. I don't know," he said on the third try.

Joinbee is expected to officially plead guilty at a sentencing hearing on February 6.