A man has faced court after he allegedly murdered a woman known to him, who was found dead with stab wounds in a backyard.

Emergency services were called to a home in Melbourne’s west about 9.05am yesterday, when they found the 42-year-old woman’s body.

She was found dead in the backyard with stab wounds, police said.

Jessie James Tumaliuan, 41, was arrested at a Retford Close, Werribee, home and charged with murder later that evening.

The identity of his victim is yet to be confirmed, but Tumaliuan appeared to be married with four children according to his social media.

Tumaliuan faced court this morning wearing a white T-shirt, where dates were set for his next hearing.

The prosecutor asked for three months to gather additional evidence before handing it to Tumaliuan’s defence team.

She said this was because police needed additional time to understand the cause of death and to take statements from the victim’s family members who reside overseas.

Magistrate Andrew Halse asked Tumaliuan to stand as he told him he would be remanded in custody until his next court date.

“No application for bail was made at this stage,” he told Tumaliuan.

He nodded and was taken out of court by custody officers.