Police believe man was attacked with brush shaft before death
PSNITwo men have appeared in court charged with the murder of Nicholas Gordon at his home in east Belfast.
The 51-year-old, known as Nicky, was attacked when a number of intruders entered his apartment on the Holywood Road on 12 May. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries four days later.
Christopher Nobes, 31, and Andrew Matthews, 25, both with no fixed abode, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with a number of offences including murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and threats to kill.
Solicitors for both men said they "vehemently deny the charges" against them.
Nobes and Matthews appeared in the dock in grey tracksuits and spoke only to confirm they understood the charges against them.
Other charges include aggravated burglary, theft and criminal damage.
A detective inspector confirmed she could connect the two men to the charges.
She told the court police arrived at Nicholas Gordon's apartment in the early hours of 12 May and found him conscious but very badly beaten.
He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital and died on Saturday 16 May.
The detective inspector said police believed Nobes and Matthews were in another flat in the same building complex.
She said in the early hours of 12 May, the men forcibly entered Gordon's home on three occasions attacking him with a brush shaft.
She told the court criminal damage was caused when a television was taken off the wall and thrown at a window.
The police officer said the two men had threatened witnesses and had then fled to Scotland on 13 May under false names.
No bail application was made but solicitors for both men said they "vehemently deny the charges" against them.
Both men were remanded into custody to appear again on 19 June.
Two other people arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily harm were released unconditionally on Tuesday.
