Melanie Quealey, 28, of no fixed address, did not enter a plea when she appeared before magistrate Jim Swanson.

No police facts were tendered in court.

After extensive questioning on Thursday, police charged Quealey with the murder of Tony Keith Coleman, of no fixed address, on Wednesday night.

She allegedly stabbed Mr Coleman before running for help as he lay bleeding.

Mr Coleman suffered a single stab wound to the upper thigh and collapsed between the Cessnock Catholic church hall and the St Vincent de Paul building in Cumberland Street. Quealey allegedly ran down nearby Edward Street to use a public phone.

Mr Coleman lost a fatal amount of blood after his femoral artery was cut.

He was rushed to Cessnock Hospital but died a short time later.

Police told The Herald on Thursday the itinerant pair were from the South Coast and had only arrived in Cessnock two days before the alleged murder.

It remains unclear why the pair travelled to the Coalfields although it is understood they did not have a place to stay.

Quealey will remain in custody until her next court appearance in Newcastle Local Court on January 13.