THE parents of two British medical students stabbed to death while in Malaysia on a placement have said they are "pleased" after a man was found guilty of murder, but added that the verdict will not bring their sons back.

Newcastle University students Aidan Brunger, of Kent, and Neil Dalton, of Ambergate, in Derbyshire, were killed in Sarawak on the island of Borneo in August last year.

Zulkipli Abdullah, a 23-year-old fishmonger, was sentenced to death at the high court where prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad said he had told friends he wanted to "test his strength" against bigger and taller foreigners before going after the two men.

The prosecutor said the court ruled that Zulkipli's defence was "merely an afterthought" and failed to raise any reasonable doubt in the case.

The victims, both aged 22, had been working at a local hospital in Kuching - an area popular with backpackers.

They were stabbed and killed after an incident in a bistro or cafe in the early hours of the morning, an inquest into their deaths heard last year.

Their fathers positively identified their sons' remains when they were flown back to the UK.

In a joint statement today Phil and Jan Dalton and Paul Brunger and Sue Hidson paid tribute to their sons, and spoke of the devastation their deaths had caused.

They said: "Since Aidan and Neil were killed on 6 August 2014, our lives have been shattered.

"They were two exceptional young men with such promise - kind, funny and full of life. Their deaths have left their families and many good friends utterly devastated.

"Neil and Aidan were having a wonderful time in Borneo working in Sarawak Hospital and also travelling around seeing as much of the beautiful country as they could. Both boys said how very welcoming and friendly the people were.

"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.

"We would like to thank our families, friends and everyone who has helped us through these distressing times. We would ask that we are now left to grieve for Neil and Aidan in peace."

Professor Jane Calvert, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Newcastle University, said: 

“This has been a desperately sad and difficult time for the families, the students and all of us here at Newcastle University. 

“These were talented, popular young men with so much potential who should have been completing their medical degrees this year with the rest of their year group.  They had many, many friends and their deaths have had a huge impact on the medical school community.

“Neil and Aidan were doing what thousands of medical students do every year by gaining valuable medical experience overseas, helping and caring for others.

“We continue to support our students and our thoughts are with the families at this very difficult time.”