Neighbours name man killed in stab attack

The 47-year-old died at a ground-floor flat in Stenhouse Gardens North at about 10pm on Wednesday night following an alleged disturbance.

It is understood Mr Mirza lived at the address with two others.

A neighbour, who declined to be named, claimed he heard screams. He said: "I could hear shouting and screaming but couldn't place where it was coming from and didn't realise anything was wrong.

"Soon there were police and ambulance crews in the street."

Nearby residents said Mr Mirza was new to the area and had only moved in within the last "couple of months".

Last night, police continued to stand guard outside the stairwell to the property and door-to-door inquiries were ongoing.

Locals said police had recently been probing a series of vandal attacks on a car outside the same address, although there was nothing to directly link that to Wednesday night's incident.

Lothian and Borders Police were called previously to probe a spate of tyres being slashed and bodywork being daubed with spray paint. They were called again at the flat in Stenhouse Gardens North as recently as Monday.

Forensic teams, a police command unit and uniformed officers yesterday conducted door-to-door inquiries and hunted for clues as patrol cars blocked off the adjacent streets.

Ambulance staff – who had been treating the victim of a hit-and-run in an unrelated incident just yards away – raced the man to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but were unable to save him.

Officers immediately cordoned off the area and spent the night doing door to door enquiries.

Yesterday, neighbours confirmed police had been to the property several times in recent weeks after a car owned by a man living in the building was vandalised.

One 45-year-old woman said: "It was about two months ago that a car there had all its tyres slashed and another time it was spray painted. But it is a shock to see that on your own doorstep.

"It is getting worse in this area – there is so much going on. It is very scary."

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "Police are appealing for witnesses after a 47-year-old man died following a disturbance in Stenhouse Gardens North, Edinburgh, at 10pm on 26 May."

A 48-year-old man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today, charged with murder.

PLEA FOR WITNESSES TO HIT-AND-RUN

CITY police are appealing for witnesses following a hit and run in Stenhouse Gardens.

The incident happened at around 9:30pm on Wednesday.

A 38-year-old woman was walking towards Saughton when she was struck by a vehicle, which failed to stop at the scene.

The woman was taken to the ERI for treatment on minor injuries to her back, arms and mouth.