Syarafi Abu was charged with murdering Nursyuhada Johari, 20, at KM228.2 of the North-South Expressway near Bukit Gantang around 11.55am on Feb 2.
He faces the death penalty if convicted under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
When the charge was read to him by the interpreter, the accused merely shook his head, Bernama reported.
"The court is not asking you to plea, only whether you understand the charge," Magistrate Eyu Ghim Siang interjected.
The accused seemed to not comprehend what had been said.
Eyu set April 21 for re-mention and ordered Syarafi to be remanded further, as the offence is not bailable.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Amril Johari appeared for the prosecution.
Syarafi being escorted at the courthouse after he was charged with murdering Nursyuhada. - BERNAMApic
On Feb 3, it was reported that the accused had been harassing the victim ever since she was a 17-year-old Form Five student.
They came from the same village, with both their families knowing one another. It was reported that Syarafi had wanted a romantic relationship with Nursyuhada but the latter refused as she believed he was a drug user.
On the morning of Feb 2, Syarafi had drove to meet Nursyuhada at her campus in Permatang Pauh, Penang and forced her into his car, threatening to stab her if she didn't.
At around noon, Syarafi was seen alighting the vehicle at the crime scene and tried to drag her to the road divider before he fled to the nearby woods.
Onlookers who witnessed the incident jumped in to help and nabbed the suspect.
Nursyuhada was brought to hospital and was pronounced dead at 2pm. Her throat had been slit.
Police later found a knife smeared with blood in the bushes at the scene.
UiTM, meanwhile, had denied that Nursyuhada had been kidnapped from campus grounds and claimed that the victim had entered Syarafi's car willingly.
