A 37-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court accused of unlawfully killing his friend at a party in Co Armagh.
The body of Paul Curran, (29) was discovered when police were called to a house in Lurgan's Manor Drive last Thursday afternoon, March 9.
John McComb, from Ardnaskea Park in Coalisland, Co Tyrone admits striking Mr Curran but claims it was during a "playfight" and denies his manslaughter.
It is understood Mr Curran sustained a head injury during what was described as a "two-day drinking party".
Another man and a woman were also arrested but released pending reports to the Public Prosecution Service.
The court heard on Monday that emergency services were alerted by a 999 call made by a woman who said a "a man had choked on his own vomit" .
While instructions were being given about how to give CPR, a man could be heard in the background saying: "He is dead. I've tried to f***ing revive him."
Police arrived at the house 40 minutes later. They found Mr Curran on his back, on the living room floor.
There were "heavily intoxicated persons" at the scene.
A detective told the court witnesses had given statements that "there was an altercation, sparring that became heated, between the deceased and Mr McComb" who left the house after paramedics arrived.
He was arrested in a car a short time later but the court heard that from CCTV footage, it was evident Mr McComb had changed his clothing.
While Mr McComb also admitted punching Mr Curran to the head, his lawyer suggested during cross-examination that the friends had in fact been "play fighting".
Mr McComb maintains that he changed his clothes after attempting CPR on Mr Curran and then, deeply upset, went drinking so heavily he was unable to say what happened to his clothing.
Bail was refused and Mr McComb was remanded in custody to reappear by video-link on the last day of this month.
