Detectives investigating the murder of a Belfast man on Christmas Eve have released a 12-year-old boy on police bail.
The child had been arrested along with a 17-year-old boy in connection with the killing of Matthew Goddard at his home on Wednesday.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the boy was freed pending further inquiries; a 17-year-old male remained in custody. A 21-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman who were arrested on Saturday remain in custody.
Goddard, from east Belfast, was beaten to death with his electric guitar and other objects, the PSNI said. DCI John McVea added: “Mr Goddard suffered a brutal and violent attack in the living room of his home, a place where he should have felt safe. He was not previously known to police.
“We believe Mr Goddard may have been involved in drugs, and this is one of a number of lines of inquiry police are investigating. At this stage, we do not know the reason why he was attacked.”
