Former fugitive Ricardo Barbaro has been charged with one count of murder over the death of a Melbourne mother.

Dressed in a grey jumper and with a cut near his left eye Barbaro was mostly silent during the hearing in front of magistrate John Lesser on Saturday.

The 33-year-old only spoke when questioned on whether he was withdrawing from any drugs, by Mr Lesser.

He nodded yes before he said: “Valiums and Xanax”.

Barbaro, from Southport in Queensland, was asked whether he needed a nurse.

“Yeah I’m seeing a doctor,” he told the magistrate.

The 33-year-old was charged over the death of Ellie Price, who was found dead in her South Melbourne home on May 4.

It comes after a week-long manhunt to find Barbaro ended after a violent stand-off in Sydney.

“A 33-year-old Southport man who has been charged with murder and extradited from NSW in relation to the South Melbourne homicide investigation,” police said in a statement.

Rick Barbaro had previously been in a relationship with Ellie Price.

The 26-year-old woman’s body was in her apartment for days before it was discovered.

Police believe Barbaro was in an on-again, off-again relationship with the young mother.

He is due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday.

-with AAP