A teenager has pleaded not guilty to murdering a 64-year-old man whose body was found in a burnt-out house on the NSW north coast.
The accused, who cannot be named as he was aged 17 at the time of the alleged offence, was arraigned in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday.
He pleaded not guilty to murdering Scott Czarnecki between August 14 and 17, 2020 at Smiths Creek, about 40km northwest of Lismore.
He also pleaded not guilty to improperly interfering with a corpse and destroying property by fire.
Emergency services were called to the rural property on the evening of August 16 following reports it was alight.
Police established a crime scene after Mr Czarnecki's body was found inside the home.
Justice Robert Allan Hulme on Friday was told the trial issue related to the teenager's mental health.
He listed the judge-alone trial, estimated to last for up five days, for July 18 in Lismore Supreme Court.
