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Man to face murder charge over assault death

Catherine Morrison
BBC News NI
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Stephen Holmes died in hospital after the incident

A man is to face a charge of murder following the death of an assault victim in County Tyrone earlier this month, a court has heard.

Stephen Holmes, 31, died in hospital at the weekend following the incident in Strabane on 3 February.

Dylan McCrossan, 31, of Beechmount Village, Strabane, previously appeared before court charged in connection with the assault.

Several days after that appearance, Mr Holmes died in hospital. The PSNI then said the charges would be reviewed.

On Thursday, prosecutors asked District Judge Oonagh Mullan to withdraw the previous charge of grievous bodily harm.

Mr McCrossan was not in Strabane Magistrates' Court for the brief hearing, which lasted only minutes.

The charge was formally changed to murdering Mr Holmes on 8 February.

Members of Mr Holmes' family watched on from the public gallery.

There was no objection by the defence and the judge remanded Mr McCrossan in continuing custody to appear again by video link on 6 March.