A Melbourne man charged with the murder of a French tourist in the Northern Territory outback is under police guard in hospital as he awaits court.
Pande Veleski, 35, was charged on Saturday evening after 33-year-old Philippe Jegouzo was knifed in the neck in "an unprovoked attack" in front of his wife at a remote roadside rest stop north of Alice Springs on Wednesday.
Veleski was arrested on Thursday and admitted to Alice Springs hospital where he remains.
After the attack, Mr Jegouzo's traumatised wife flagged down another couple in a passing car, who drove her to the nearest telephone 30km away.
Her husband died at the scene.
The couple had only recently arrived in Australia.
NT Police have called the attack "random and obscure".
Veleski is scheduled to face Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.
