THE three-day search, involving hundreds of members of the public across Edinburgh and beyond for missing Mikaeel Kular, had been a "serious matter," Lord Glennie told Rosdeep Adekoya.

Police, fire officers, coastguard, mountain rescue teams and a police helicopter had been 'greatly assisted' said police, by local people after Adekoya reported him missing on Wednesday, January 15.

Adekoya's arrest for murder came shortly after police said in the early hours of Saturday, January 18, that a child's body had been found in Kirkcaldy.

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham yesterday thanked the public. He added: "Whilst at the height of our searches over 300 officers and staff including mountain rescue experts and dog units were actively looking for him, sadly, the circumstances in which Mikaeel was discovered revealed that these efforts were in vain.

"I would once again like to extend my most sincere thanks to the public for the help they provided and reiterate that today my thoughts are with Mikaeel's family and those who knew him."

Prosecutors pointed out that Adekoya had told officers her son was capable of unlocking the front door of their house by himself.

John Dunn, Procurator Fiscal for the East of Scotland, said there were few crimes "more shocking than a parent killing their child" and the guilty pleas for culpable homicide followed a "thorough investigation" in to the circumstances.