Duo in court over weekend killing

Lithuanians Ricardas Stonkus, 20, and 18-year-old Vaidotas Stirbys, both with addresses in the town, deny the murder of fellow countryman Donatas Veleeka.

Mr Veleeka was beaten up outside an off-licence at about 0045 GMT on Sunday.

He was placed on a life-support machine, but died on Tuesday afternoon.

A solicitor for Mr Stirbys, in applying for bail, said the evidence against his client consisted of 10 seconds of CCTV footage.

He said his client accepted it showed him raising his hands and striking the victim but that Mr Valeeka had then got to his feet and started to walk off.

He said that there had then been what he called "significant third party intervention" and that a second assault had taken place at a different location.

A detective agreed that during three days of questioning no evidence had been put to Mr Stirbys to suggest he had been at that second location.

'Interfere'

Objecting to bail, the detective said police were concerned that Mr Stirbys would leave the jurisdiction or possibly attempt to interfere with witnesses.

However, the solicitor said his client had surrendered his passport and that his pregnant girlfriend, three brothers, and two sisters were all living in the Dungannon area.

Granting bail, the magistrate imposed a curfew and said Stirbys was to abstain from alcohol.

Mr Stonkus was remanded in custody to appear in court again next week.