A homeless man murdered at a hostel in the centre of Belfast may have been beaten to death, it emerged today.
As detectives questioned two men about the killing at the Lee Hestia shelter it emerged that the victim had been staying there for several nights.
It is believed he was involved in a row that flared between a number of those in the complex early today.
Although a post mortem examination has yet to be completed police believe his injuries were caused by a severe beating. Part of their investigation is now centring around whether any weapons were also used.
One security source said: "It looks like he suffered serious trauma as a result of a pretty bad assault."
Police arrested two men who it is understood were staying at the hostel when they were called to the scene in Brunswick Street at about 2.40 a.m.
Investigators believe that the dispute which led to the murder may have followed a heavy bout of drinking.
No details about the dead man were available, as detectives were still attempting to find his last known address before he checked into the hostel.
"These are fairly anonymous people but we know that the victim had been staying in the hostel for a number of nights," one source said.
