A 35-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a French tourist who was allegedly stabbed to death at a Northern Territory rest stop.
The man has been remanded in custody to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Monday after spending several days in hospital under police guard following his arrest on Thursday.
French man Philippe Jegouzo, 33, was stabbed in the neck and died at the scene near the town of Aileron, 135km north of Alice Springs. His 30-year-old wife witnessed the attack and flagged down a passing car for help, and has since been treated for shock.
She today thanked the Alice Springs community for their support.
Police believe the accused fled the scene in a Hyundai i30, and officers found him naked in nearby bushland the next morning.
Detective Superintendent Travis Wurst earlier said the killing was "random and obscure".
"We'll endeavour to interview and lay a charge in due course," he said.
Det Supt Wurst said commenting on the arrested man's mental health or any possible fitness to plea would be "jumping the gun".
The accused had reportedly told relatives he was spending the week an Dromana, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.