Chris Morelli, of Willowvale Avenue in the city, appeared in court this morning charged with murdering the mother-of-one on Saturday 10 September.
The case was upgraded to a murder inquiry after the results of an initial post mortem examination appeared to show that Ms Thomson had been suffocated.There was also potential for interference in the investigation and a risk to the accused as a result of community reaction to Ms Thomson's death, the court heard.
Belfast Magistrates Court heard police were continuing to search for an object which was believed to have been used in the course of the murder.
Northern Ireland is one of the most deadly places in the world if you're a woman with a man in your life. My thoughts are with Hollie's loved ones at this awful time.
Sentence for murdering a woman should be twice that for murdering a man . We need drastic action HateCrimes misogyny
Tragic.