Ismail Burnett jailed for life for murder of James Bruce in Boddam
A man who admitted murdering a father-of-two by stabbing him to death in an Aberdeenshire town has been jailed for life.
James Bruce, 40, from Peterhead, died in hospital after being attacked in Boddam in October 2010.
Ismail Burnett, 39, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge but changed his plea during a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.
Burnett was jailed for a minimum of 16 years at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The court heard how Burnett was full of remorse for the attack.
However, judge Lord Bannatyne said he had no other option but to jail him for life.
During the trial, marine engineer Mr Bruce's son, Shaun, 20, broke down as he gave evidence.
He told the jury he had tried to help his father when he found him injured in a street near his home on Halloween.
Grampian Police Det Supt Malcolm Stewart, who led the inquiry, said: "Burnett carried out a violent and sustained attack on James Bruce at a time when numerous members of the public, including young children who were out trick-or-treating, were in the area."
Burnett faced a further two charges of being in possession of heroin and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the knife.
His not guilty pleas were accepted by the Crown.