A woman charged with murdering her partner in a house fire in Long Gully has appeared in court but denied killing him.

Kate Stone, 39, appeared briefly in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with murdering Darren Reid last month.

She was arrested and charged earlier on Wednesday.

Mr Reid, 45, suffered serious burns in a house fire on Derwent Drive Long Gully on December 18. He died in hospital the following day.

Stone said something inaudible to two women sitting near the dock, and then in a discussion with her lawyer before she was taken back into custody, said loudly: "I never murdered my husband."

She was then taken into custody and ordered to return to court on May 24.

One of the women raised concerns about Stone's safety in custody with the lawyer. The women refused to comment outside court.

At the time of the fire, which caused minor damage to the rear of the home, it was reported that other people were home.

Police have confirmed Stone was living in the house where the fire occurred.