Police at the scene in east Belfast where a Stanley McAuley was seriously assaulted and later died in hospital

A MAN handed himself into police following an alleyway murder in east Belfast at the weekend, a court was told on Wednesday.

John Edward Hugh Holmes, 32, is charged with murdering Stanley McAuley in the east of the city.

The 41-year-old victim was found unconscious after being attacked at Chamberlain Steet on Sunday morning.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Holmes, of Edith Street in the city, appeared before the Belfast Magistrates’ Court after being charged with the killing.

A detective from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch confirmed that the accused had handed himself in to a police station.

No application for bail was made during the short hearing.

Holmes was remanded in custody until Wednesday,May 1 when he is expected to seek bail.

A 20-year-old woman also arrested in connection to the murder remains in custody.