A man stabbed repeatedly in the head outside his home in west Belfast had been challenged about a suspected Facebook posting, a court has heard.
Tiernan Rooney (28) died just days after the alleged assault at Conway Place on December 29.
But police confirmed that his subsequent death is not being linked to the doorstep confrontation.
Details emerged as a 31-year-old man was remanded in custody accused of taking part in the earlier attack.
Thomas Park, of Centenary House hostel in the city, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with possessing an offensive weapon, namely an unknown sharp object, and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
He faces a further account of stealing a Ring doorbell from the victim’s property.
An investigating detective said police discovered Mr Rooney being treated at the scene following reports he had been stabbed several times to the head.
In an account recorded on body-worn cameras, the victim claimed Park and another unknown male called to confront him at his front door.
Following a short argument the two men allegedly began punching him to the head several times.
As Mr Rooney tried to protect himself he felt something sharp strike his forehead and top of his head, according to his account, but could not see the object or who was holding it.
Both men then left the area on foot.
Mr Rooney was treated in hospital for a two-inch laceration above his eyebrow, a slash wound to the top of his head, other monitor cuts and a potential broken nose.
He died three days later without providing a formal statement about the incident outside his house.
“It has been reported in the media that this assault is linked to Mr Rooney’s death. However, that isn’t the case,” the detective confirmed.
A doorbell camera was later examined and showed Park getting into a verbal disagreement with the victim, the court heard.
The footage stopped when the other unidentified man covered it with his hand.
Mr Rooney’s partner told police she was at home at the time, saw nothing but heard an altercation outside.
“She heard a thud, ran downstairs and found Tiernan outside the front door bleeding from a head injury,” the detective said.
It was alleged that Park evaded several attempts to arrest him over the last four weeks.
He jumped from a balcony and out of cars stopped by police before he was eventually detained on Tuesday.
During interviews Park said he went to the victim’s home to challenge him about a “derogatory” Facebook post relating to Park’s recently deceased sister, the court heard.
He claimed this turned into “pushing and shoving”, but Mr Rooney had suffered no injuries when he left the scene.
Defence solicitor Paul Farrell of McIvor Farrell law firm argued that Park had provided a full account.
“Another person of interest obscured the Ring doorbell,” he submitted.
“There are certainly gaps in the evidence that would connect the accused to any injuries that (Mr Rooney) sustained.
Claiming the case against his client was circumstantial and based on hearsay, Mr Farrell predicted that any prosecution will face “legal complexities”.
He added: “The defendant went to the property for quite legitimate reasons to ask the injured party to remove a social media post which had caused some degree of upset.
“It’s important not to conflate this case with the injured party’s death a number of days afterwards.”
Park was refused bail due to the risk of re-offending and concerns he may not turn up for trial.
District Judge Natasha Fitzsimons remanded him in custody until February 26.