Borneo man receives death sentence for killing Brits Aidan Brunger and Neil Dalton

A fishmonger who stabbed to death two trainee British doctors has been sentenced to death in Borneo.

Aidan Brunger and Neil Dalton, both aged 22, were killed in a street fight at a bar in Kuching, Sarawak. They were enjoying a work trip to the paradise island in Malaysia when it happened last year.

Local man Zulkipli Abdullah, 24, has been sentenced to death by hanging, in line with the country's mandatory punishment for murder.

Brunger and Dalton were students at Newcastle University. Their families were in court to hear the verdict. In a statement, Brunger's father, Paul, spoke of the impact of their deaths.

"Their deaths have left their families and many good friends utterly devastated," he said.

"Our sons would soon have qualified as doctors. Their unprovoked and senseless murders as they were walking home after a night out with other medical students mean that Aidan and Neil will never have the chance to spend their lives caring for and helping others.

"They would have given so much to the world. We are so very proud of both of them and in what they achieved in their all too short lives.

"Although we are pleased that the man responsible for their murders has been held accountable, the guilty verdict does not bring our sons back."

Abdullah denied killing Brunger and Dalton but admitted being in a fight with them and two other men.