A thug who fled to a number of hotels after killing an ex-bodybuilder boasted police would not catch him.
Marius Bauba flouted eight different bail orders when he knifed to death Morgan Dunn at a house in Ayr, South Ayrshire on February 8 this year.
The 27 year-old tried to dodge arrest by dying his hair and checking into hotels in Dumfries, Gretna and Carlisle using false names.
But, police eventually found him 11 days after the fatal attack.
Bauba yesterday faced a murder allegation when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.
But, prosecutors accepted his guilty plea to the reduced charge of culpable homicide.
He will be sentenced in the New Year.
The men had been the house of a mutual friend in Ayr.
They did not know each other, but had posed for a photo together shortly before the killing.
The pair, however, ended up arguing in the kitchen that afternoon.
It was then Mr Dunn appeared to go for a knife on a worktop - but Bauba also went for the blade.
Prosecutor Mark McGuire said: “Bauba got there first...a struggle ensued and he stabbed Morgan Dunn twice in the chest.”
The advocate depute said it was accepted “provocation can be made out” reducing the crime from murder.
The court heard Bauba escaped before two other people in the house discovered the stricken victim.
A 999 call was made, but Mr Dunn - who lived in Ayrshire with his mum - died 40 minutes later having been stabbed in the heart.
The court heard Bauba initially called a friend to meet him at a McDonald’s restaurant.
This person gave him £200 before the killer contacted another man, who arranged for him to stay at a Holiday Inn in Dumfries.
Mr McGuire: “Bauba claimed he had fallen out with his girlfriend and had nowhere to go.”
But, his partner Kelly Maxwell then joined him at the hotel.
She quizzed him on Mr Dunn’s death, but he denied being responsible.
The couple moved onto a second hotel in the town before checking in for two night at another in Carlisle.
Mr McGuire: “At some point during his time with Miss Maxwell, Bauba dyed his hair.”
The false names of “Alan Graham” and “Barry Gilmour” were also used during the stays.
Bauba finally visited the Solway Lodge Hotel in Gretna claiming his car had broken down.
The advocate depute said: “At a suggestion (by staff) police might be looking for him if they found his car abandoned, Bauba stated; ‘They will never find me’.”
But, detectives were later tipped off where the killer was.
He was found in his room there, but made no comment about the attack.
Bauba was on the streets despite being the subject of eight bail orders from Ayr Sheriff Court - the last imposed a week before the killing.
These were for various offences including a number of assaults
He was also serving a community payback order at the time - which he had breached - as well as awaiting sentencing for disorderly conduct and flouting bail.
Bauba’s lengthy list of previous convictions included three violent crimes, a drug offence and nine road traffic matters.
Brian McConnachie QC, defending, said the thug “deeply regrets” being responsible for the death.
Lord Matthews deferred sentencing on Bauba - who also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice - for reports.
He was remanded in custody meantime.
