A 43-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 36-year-old Shane Knott in Naas, Co Kildare.
Padraig Delaney, with an address at The Lane in Eustace Demesne in Naas, was brought before Naas District Court this morning.
He was arrested on Sunday night by gardaí investigating the death of Mr Knott whose body was discovered in the garden of a house in Naas on Sunday afternoon.
He had sustained severe head injuries and gardaí said it was a violent death.
In court Detective Sergeant Enda Gallagher gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.
He told the court that a relative of the accused called to Naas Garda Station on 14 April with concerns of a death.
Det Sgt Gallagher said he arrested Mr Delaney on Sunday night at 11.13pm and he made no reply.
He said the accused was charged with the murder of Mr Knott on a date unknown between 3 and 14 April.
The court also heard a number of items were seized as part of the investigation into the murder.
Mr Delaney did not speak during the hearing.
Solicitor for the accused, Tim Kennelly, made a request for free legal aid and medical assessment which was granted.
He also made an application for a second independent post-mortem examination to be carried out.
Judge Desmond Zaidan said he did not want to "set a precedent" where it would go to a second or third post-mortem examination in serious cases like this.
Mr Kennelly also made an application for an "expert" to examine the scene of the alleged crime.
The court was adjourned briefly while the two applications were considered after consultations with the DPP.
Inspector Paul Reilly told the court that following this consultation, the State has no objection to application of a second post-mortem examination and that it is independent.
Judge Zaidan said it was the first time he had been asked for this application and it did not sit comfortable with him as the details he has been given around these applications was "very scant".
However, he said he accepted the DPP's instruction on this.
Inspector Reilly also said the State had no objection to legal aid being extended to allow an independent examination of the scene of the crime to be carried out.
Mr Delaney has been remanded in custody to appear in court again on Thursday.
