Turkish man remanded in custody over the murder of Eamonn Magee jnr last weekend.

A 32-year-old Turkish man has faced a court charged with the murder of professional boxer Eamonn Magee Jr.

In the dock of Craigavon Magistrates’ Court was Orhan Koca.

He was formally charged but denied fatally stabbing the 22 year old.

Mr Magee was visiting his girlfriend Courtney Ward in Summerhill Park, Twinbrook, on Saturday.

As he stepped outside to check on a pizza delivery, he was stabbed up to five times with a stolen kitchen knife.

Mr Magee was the son of former WBU welterweight champion Eamonn Magee Sr who was in court for the appearance.

He had followed his father into the boxing ring and had a promising career ahead of him. He was also studying engineering at university.

The court was told Mr Koca, a father of three young children, had consistently denied murder from the moment of his arrest and throughout 19 police interviews.

His defence team plan to apply for bail in four weeks time.

However, this bail application will be opposed by the prosecution.

A detective inspector told the court he believed he could connect Mr Koca to the charges.

The knife used in the murder was recovered in the Twinbrook area and is now undergoing forensic tests.

The defendant was remanded in custody until June 29.