Police in Northern Ireland began a murder inquiry today after a battered man's body was found in a burning Belfast house.
Det Supt Alan Mains of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said a post-mortem had confirmed the man had suffered severe head injuries before the fire started in a "squat" in south Belfast yesterday afternoon.
A woman in her mid-twenties, who was arrested last night, is today being questioned in connection with the death.
Det Supt Mains said it was not yet known whether the man had died from the head injuries or the fire. He said his team had not officially confirmed the identity of the man, aged around 33 but were working.
Neighbours raised the alarm when they saw smoke coming from the first floor of the house at Camden Street in the university area of the city.
Firefighters forced entry to the partially boarded up house and the fire was confined to the first floor and landing.
Det Supt Mains said: "The house was like a communal house, a squat, with people coming and going at will".
PA