Two men were remanded into custody on Wednesday accused of carrying out a killing in north Belfast.
Louis Maguire and Christopher Power appeared before the city’s Magistrates Court jointly charged with murdering Eamonn Ferguson.
The 35-year-old victim was found dead at Maguire’s home early on Saturday morning.
Friends and relatives of Mr Ferguson packed the public gallery as the two accused were brought into the dock.
There was a brief angry outburst as Maguire, 26, appeared to smile in their direction.
Both him and Power, a 31-year-old Co Offaly man of no fixed address, deny involvement in the killing.
Neither accused sought bail during the brief hearing.
Power’s lawyer, Dennis Boyd of Boyd Cherry Solicitors, revealed his client was interviewed 22 times over four days.
Under cross-examination a detective involved in the murder investigation confirmed the defendant continued to deny the allegation against him.
The court heard that after being charged Power replied: “I have nothing to do with this murder.”
Maguire’s solicitor, Michael Madden, said he also refuted the charge.
Mr Madden added that his client would not be seeking bail as he felt unable to return to the house where his friend was killed.
Both accused were remanded in custody to appear again in four weeks time.
