A 23-year-old man has faced court accused of murdering a newborn baby.

Eric Ronald Riley appeared before a magistrate in Perth on Monday over an “incident” in the northern suburb of Innaloo on May 2.

The eight-week-old baby died in hospital on Saturday.

Homicide squad and child abuse detectives had been investigating the incident.

They moved to charge the accused with murder following the baby’s death.

Riley held his head in his hands during his appearance in Perth Magistrates Court.

A large group of grieving family members were there for the hearing, as were homicide squad detectives.

Riley was remanded in custody and will next appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on June 24.