Intruders beat murder victim Nicky Gordon in his east Belfast flat with a brush shaft, a court has heard.
Two men accused of carrying out the fatal assault also allegedly "goaded" and threatened to kill witnesses at the apartment block if they informed police.
Details emerged as Christoper Colin Nobes, 31, and Andrew John Matthews, 25, were remanded in custody, jointly charged with murdering Mr Gordon.
The 51-year-old victim was attacked at his home in the Holywood Road area on 12 May and died in hospital from his injuries four days later.
Mr Nobes and Mr Matthews, both of no fixed abode, were arrested in Scotland earlier this week and brought to Northern Ireland for questioning.
They face further counts of aggravated burglary with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on the victim, stealing his bank card and mobile phone, and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Both men are also accused of making threats to kill two women at the scene.
Mr Matthews is additionally charged with criminal damage to a television belonging to Mr Gordon by throwing it out of the window.
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Appearing in the dock together at Belfast Magistrates' Court, the defendants confirmed they understood the allegations against them.
Mr Matthews and Mr Nobes allegedly launched the fatal attack on Mr Gordion in the early hours of 12 May.
He was discovered by police, conscious but very badly beaten, according to the detective, and subsequently died at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Based on witness and CCT evidence, a senior detective claimed the defendants arrived at the apartment complex at around 3am and initially stayed in a different flat.
"They went upstairs at around 4.45am, forcibly entered the flat on three occasions and assaulted Nicky Gordon with what is alleged to have been a brush shaft," she contended.
"They came back down to the apartment where they had been staying, where a number of witnesses stated they had been goading about what they had done."
The pair also allegedly spoke about the previous incidents at the social club and supermarket.
District Judge Austin Kennedy was told both defendants left Northern Ireland and travelled to Scotland under false names the following day.
Neither accused made applications for bail, but defence lawyers said they both vehemently denied the allegations against them.
Judge Kennedy remanding both defendants in custody until 19 June.
