Ruslanas Kovalkovas, 51, appeared at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with the murder of Rolandas Kvederis, 49, in a Portadown flat.

Kvederis died from seven stab wounds to his neck and lower back at the Ranfurly Road property on Thursday night. Police found him on a hall landing surrounded by blood. The tip of a knife was embedded in a bone in his neck.

Kovalkovas lived at the apartment, which was in Kvederis's name. Kvederis had sublet it to Kovalkovas but returned recently and asked him to leave. Kovalkovas told police Kvederis abused him verbally, ordered him out, and attacked him with a knife in the kitchen.

Kovalkovas stated he grabbed the knife during the fight and stabbed Kvederis to defend himself. He said he had no choice and acted automatically. His lawyer told the court Kovalkovas believed it was him or Kvederis.

District Judge Rosemary Watters heard Kovalkovas deny the charge through an interpreter. A PSNI detective sergeant described the attack as frenzied and brutal.

Another man at the flat raised the alarm by asking his daughter to call police due to his limited English. He reported a fight between two men and one being dead. That man was arrested but released unconditionally.

Judge Watters denied bail due to no suitable address, risk of further offences, and flight risk. Kovalkovas, remanded in custody, faces a potential trial delay to 2028 from barristers' industrial action. He returns to Craigavon Magistrates’ Court via videolink on April 24.