Manu Vi, 25, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday by video link, and has yet to plead to one count of murder, the Queensland Times online has reported.
According to a Kaniva News report the charge arises from an incident at Paringa, 260km north east of Adelaide, on August 2.
Vi was originally charged with manslaughter after his alleged victim, a 29-year-old Vanuatu national, did not show up for work the day after the incident.
The Vanuatu man was found unresponsive in his cabin that night and rushed to hospital, but died two days later.
