Kenan Dowden-Carlisle, 19, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday morning, when he was formally charged with murdering 29-year-old Jordan Powell in Civic.

He asked magistrate James Stewart to read the charge twice because the phone link to the Alexander Maconochie Centre, where he is in custody, "cut out" the first time.

Mr Dowden-Carlisle, of Greenleigh, near Queanbeyan, did not enter a plea.

Mr Stewart indicated he had spoken to Mr Dowden-Carlisle on Saturday evening as part of a forensic procedure, saying the teenager "hadn't slept for several nights" at that stage.

When the magistrate asked how he was on Monday, the alleged killer replied that he was "not great".

A Legal Aid lawyer told the court Mr Dowden-Carlisle would not be making an application for bail.

Mr Stewart therefore remanded the teenager in custody until next Monday, when he will appear in court via audio-visual link for a final forensic procedure application.

The 19-year-old will then face court again on Friday next week, when the murder charge will be mentioned.

Mr Dowden-Carlisle has been in custody since about 10.30am on Saturday, when police arrested him in Ainslie Place after he allegedly ran from City Walk with officers in pursuit.

MORE COURT AND CRIME NEWS:

Investigators allege the teenager had earlier stabbed Mr Powell in an area near Garema Place, where the 29-year-old collapsed about 9.45am that morning.

Police officers, paramedics and members of the public all performed first aid on the Indigenous man, who died at the scene.

A few hours after the incident, Detective Superintendent Scott Moller told reporters the alleged murder was a "traumatic" and "shocking" incident.

He said "a multitude of witnesses" had already spoken to ACT Policing, and urged anyone else with information to come forward.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: