MARK McLAUGHLIN
Evening News (Edinburgh)
August 10, 2010, Tuesday
A MURDER investigation is under way in Wester Hailes after a man was stabbed to death following a reported row over a puppy.
The victim, named locally as 34-year-old Martin Hughes, was seen staggering out of a flat in Wester Hailes Park yesterday afternoon with a stab wound.
Emergency services found Mr Hughes lying in the street and he was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he later died.
Neighbours claimed Mr Hughes had been involved in a dispute with his attacker, who is currently being hunted by police, in the days leading up to his death.
One local, who did not wish to be named, said: "He recently bought a rottweiler puppy but it was sick and it died shortly after he bought it.
"The word is that Martin didn't want to pay for the puppy, so the guy came round and stabbed him."
Sharon Sutherland, 34, said: "A friend of mine said she saw him staggering out of one of the flats and she thought he was drunk, and then he just collapsed.
"He loved his dogs and he was quite upset when the puppy died.
"There's a lot of violence in the area though."
Neighbours said Mr Hughes hadn't lived in the area long, but had become a popular member of the community.
Jimmy John, 21, a labourer, said: "He was popular with all of the kids because he used to look out for them and enjoyed getting a wee kick about with them in the street.
"If any of the kids had a fall he was always the first one to make sure they were okay.
Other neighbours have claimed the stabbing may have been drugs related.
Ricky Henderson, councillor for the Pentland Hills ward which covers the area where the stabbing took place said: "It is tragic when something like this happens.
"Wester Hailes Park has a good close-knit community and I hope that the police can get to the root of this very quickly."
A police spokesman confirmed they had launched a murder investigation.
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