THIS is the dramatic moment armed cops swooped on a knife killer in the street.
Officers pointing automatic guns shout at thug Kane Kotwica to get down on the floor in the footage, caught on body cameras.
The 39-year-old, seen with his hood up, lays on double yellow lines on the edge of the road with his arms splayed out to the sides.
The footage was released after Kotwica was found guilty of murdering Matthew Cainey, 53, following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
Armed officers patrolling the area in an unmarked car spotted their target at the junction of Painswick Road and Chequers Road.
In the video, a cop inside the car can be heard asking “Who’s that?” before a colleague confirms: “There he is.”
They jump into action and surround Kotwica while shouting: “Armed police, get down on the floor now!”
The officers then urge him not to move and to keep his arms out to the side.
At least one member of the public can be seen in the footage tentatively passing by in a car to emerge from the junction during the arrest.
‘Cowardly’ knife attack
After the three week trial, Kotwica was also convicted of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent relating to two other men he also stabbed and seriously injured.
The court heard shocking details of the “cowardly” knife attack at a flat in Bedford Street, Gloucester, on May 28 and was partially captured on a neighbour’s doorbell footage.
Kotwica had fled the property and ditched the weapon down a drain – but this was all caught on CCTV.
The court heard that Kotwica had been in the flat with Mr Cainey, two other men and two women before the attack.
Kotwica and one of the men began to argue, and he grabbed a knife from the kitchen and threatened the man with it, but a woman snatched it from him and demanded he leave.
After leaving, Kotwica loitered in the area for nearly an hour and a half before returning to the flat.
He then went back to the property armed with a knife that was hidden in the pocket of his hoody.
One of the women answered the door along with Mr Cainey.
Kotwica took out the knife and brutally stabbed Mr Cainey once in the chest as he stood in the hallway of the flat.
The two other men suffered serious injuries in trying to restrain Kotwica.
One was stabbed in the chest and had to undergo life-saving surgery, while the other suffered a very serious wound to his neck.
An officer told Kotwica as he was handcuffed and read his rights: “You’re under arrest, mate, on suspicion of murder.”
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey of the Major Crime Investigation Team, who led the investigation, welcomed the guilty verdict to all three charges.
He said: “Kane Kotwica is a very dangerous and violent individual whose premeditated, cowardly attack has robbed a family of their loved one and caused serious injury to two others.
“My thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Matthew, who have shown incredible dignity throughout all of this, not least in court when listening to Kotwica’s evidence.
“It has been an incredibly traumatic and upsetting time for them so I hope that today’s verdict brings them some comfort.”
Heartbreaking family tribute
Matthew’s family also issued an emotional statement.
It said: “As a family we are heartbroken that this has happened. This is not how any life should end.
“Dad was always such a happy and cheeky man who loved his family and friends so much.
“He was always there for the people he cared about, and that showed when his friends were there for him during the trial.
“We would like to say thank you to everyone at Gloucestershire Constabulary that have worked on this case.
“You’ve all been incredible and got the outcome that’s deserved.”
Kotwica was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on December 10.
