A Selma man charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend during a domestic dispute Friday night appeared in court for the first time Monday.

Alfred Vaughan, 53, had an arraignment and bond hearing in Dallas County District Court Judge Bob Armstrong’s courtroom.

Vaughan, who is being represented by Charlie Sims, was initially being held without bond, but Armstrong set his bond Monday at $25,000, according to Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson.

Vaughan is accused of murdering his 43-year-old girlfriend, Barbara Alexander, during an argument.

Lt. Tory Neely with the Selma Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division said officers were dispatched to a home on the 1300 block of Dr. F.D. Reese Street around 11:30 p.m. Friday night in reference to an unresponsive female on the ground.

“When officers arrived, it was determined it was a domestic incident –– a fight between a girlfriend and boyfriend,” Neely said. “According to the witnesses, he pushed the girl, she fell on the ground and she died.”

The argument happened outside, and Alexander fell on the concrete. Vaughan was still on the scene when police arrived and was arrested. Neely said he has been cooperative during the course of the investigation.

“We’ve interviewed the offender, and he said that he did strike her a couple of times because she came up on him, and he did push her,” Neely said.

According to Neely, there were no visible injuries to Alexander.

Neely said her body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Montgomery for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, which Vaughan’s attorney tried to dispute.

Sims said he believed Alexander died from a heart attack, not from the argument with his client.

“It ain’t murder. He’s a good man,” Sims told an assistant district attorney in the hallway outside the courtroom.

Another assistant district attorney stepped out of the courtroom to call the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Montgomery. She asked to speak with a doctor about the autopsy. According to Neely, the doctor said Alexander died from a brain hemorrhage.

Neely said there are no prior reports of domestic violence between the two. He also said alcohol played a factor in this case.

According to court records, Vaughan does not have a violent criminal history. In the past, he has been charged with receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana.