A chef at an Indian takeaway was killed by his friend in a row over tandoori chicken.

Hidayet Ozden assaulted Shahzad Ali Shah after the cook insisted they needed clarify whether or not a customer wanted their meat on the bone or off.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard there had been tension between the two friends, with each claiming that the other was not working hard enough.

During the attack at the Mirchi Indian Cuisine eatery in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, Ozden told his victim: "I brought you here and you don't do any work."

He repeatedly punched the chef, who was suffering from a serious undiagnosed heart condition and said he would kill him.

Ozden, of Falkirk, admitted the culpable homicide of the father-of-three in court on Thursday.

He was originally charged with murdering his 53-year-old workmate.

Ozden pleaded guilty to killing the victim by repeatedly pushing him, slapping and headbutting him, striking him with an implement, grabbing him by the neck and repeatedly punching him during the attack on April 11.

Advocate depute David Taylor said the men had worked together at various takeaways before taking up posts at the Mintlaw restaurant.

"They have been described by witnesses as being very friendly towards each other and great friends," said the prosecutor.

"However, there does also appear to have been a background of tension between the two in the time leading up to the events."

Ozden hoped the chef would open a new takeaway with him but Mr Shah was planning his own venture in Kirkcaldy, he said.

On the day of the killing, Ozden had taken an order over the phone which included tandoori chicken and Mr Shah asked if the meat was supposed to be on or off the bone.

Mr Taylor said: "The accused said that it made no difference. The deceased, however, told the accused that they needed to contact the customer to check what the correct order was.

"The accused then stated 'what's your problem' and an argument began between the two men."

Ozden pushed the chef backwards and another employee, Khalid Hussain, intervened to protect him.

The manager took the written food order from Mr Shah and held it up to his face while the chef continued to ask him to call the customer to confirm how they wanted their chicken.

Ozden then pushed, slapped and hit Mr Shah with a pot so hard that the handle detached.

Mr Hussain realised the incident was escalating and left to get his boss, Shahid Ali, who arrived and asked Mr Shah if he needed a doctor. However, Mr Shah said he was fine.

The prosecutor said: "Ozden then started shouting aggressively in an animated manner at the deceased: 'I brought you here and you don't do any work, you just sit there.'"

Mr Shah appeared to be in shock and Ozden was told to leave but returned a minute later and renewed his attack on his victim, who was left apparently unconscious.

Mr Shah was later found to have been suffering from "significant coronary heart disease" and had already suffered one heart attack.

Defence counsel Ian Duguid QC said Ozden was "very remorseful about what took place and very sorry for the death of his friend".

He told the court Mr Shah's heart simply could not cope with what had occurred.

"It is a very sad situation," he added.

Judge Graham Buchanan QC deferred sentence on Ozden for the preparation of a background report and agreed to a defence motion to continue his bail.