The family of a Polish man stabbed to death in his own home voiced relief as the former friend who carried out the attack was convicted of murder.
Maciej Ciania, 34, was found dead at his flat in Dickson Street, Leith, Edinburgh, on January 14 this year.
He had been stabbed multiple times in an attack described by police as violent and brutal. Grzegorz Gamla, 26, also a Polish national, was found guilty of the murder after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The victim's sister, Aleksandra Poprawska, welcomed the verdict, saying: "Nothing will bring Maciej back but we are relieved to know that the person who committed this terrible crime will probably never hurt anyone again and no other family will suffer like we do."
Mr Ciania had lived in Edinburgh for a decade and always regarded the city as his second home.
After his body was discovered, more than 60 officers from Lothian and Borders Police were involved in the investigation to find the killer. Officers worked in particular with Eastern European communities in the city as well as the Polish authorities in the UK and in Poland.
Gamla was traced to Poland, arrested and brought back to Scotland to stand trial. He was found guilty of murder and of assault to severe injury for a previous attack on his former friend Mr Ciania, police confirmed.
Ms Poprawska later praised the police and prosecutors who helped bring the killer to justice.
She said: "We would like to thank wholeheartedly all those who have been helping us since my brother's tragic death, including the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - they were like a light in the darkness surrounding us and did everything they could to ease our pain.
"We would also like to thank Lothian and Borders Police. From the very start of the enquiry we were impressed by the way they combined the highest standards of professionalism with a warm, personal approach - like a perfect mechanism with a heart."
