POLICE have launched a murder investigation after a man was stabbed to death in Edinburgh.
The 34 year-old-man, named locally as Martin Hughes, was found at around 3pm on Monday by paramedics outside his home in Wester Hailes Park.
Today neighbours paid tribute to Mr Hughes as an animal lover who owned an Alsatian dog named Chomp.
And a woman who recently sold him a puppy played down rumours Mr Hughes had been killed after a row over payment for the young dog.
Andrea Kerray, 40, said she had recently sold him a Rottweiler puppy which died shortly afterwards.
“Trusted“
She said: “I had known Martin for a couple of years, and when my dog had a litter he said he was desperate for a puppy.
“So when more puppies came I agreed to sell him one for £250 and he was paying it up, he had already paid £115.
“I trusted him and I knew that his own dog was well kept and well fed.
“The puppy died last Thursday because of a mix up over its age, he took it out when it was too young and it got a disease.”
Another neighbour, Stuart Mcintosh, 17, had known Martin for two years and remembered him as being friendly but possibly involved in illegal drug use.
He said: “He would always say hello when he passed by with the dog and would always ask how I was doing.
“I heard that he was arguing with some people at his door on Saturday, it might have been drug related.”
Margaret Mcintosh, 48, was at home when the ambulance arrived on the scene.
Investigation
She said: “From my window I saw him lying in the street.
“The paramedics trying to help him, but there was nothing they could do and the ambulance took the body away.
“It’s very sad, he was a nice guy.”
Officers at Lothian and Borders police confirmed that they were following a positive line of inquiry.
They said: “Lothian and Borders Police have launched a murder investigation after a man died as a result of a stab wound.
“The incident happened around 3pm on Monday in the Wester Hailes Park area of Edinburgh.
“Anyone with any information should contact police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers, in confidence and complete anonymity, on 0800 555 111.”
