Leiston man Oskars Kantors jailed for minimum of almost 22 years over jealousy-fuelled murder

A man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of almost 22 years after killing his neighbour and assaulting two others in a jealousy-fuelled rage.

Oskars Kantors, 29, of Old School Close, Leiston, was convicted of murder following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court on November 19.

He stabbed 41-year-old Agris Leigavnieks - who lived on the same road - on October 17 last year.

The court heard that Kantors suspected Leigavnieks of having an affair with his girlfriend, and had assaulted two others in a rage prior to the stabbing.

Judge Martyn Levett today said there was no evidence any such affair had occurred, and noted that, before the stabbing, the defendant had consumed a quantity of cannabis, cocaine and SSRIs.

At 5pm, Kantors went to a flat near High Street, where he punched a 50-year-old man several times in the face.

The man was subsequently hospitalised.

Kantors then went to a property in Old School Close, where, around 8.20pm, he grabbed a woman by the hair and threw her to the ground.

The spree culminated around 8.50pm, when Kantors set upon Mr Leigavnieks with a knife.

The victim was attacked in his own home.

He was found in critical condition by his flatmates, and was rushed to Ipswich Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

At trial, Kantors claimed to have no recollection of the events.

However, jurors unanimously found him guilty of murder.

Rudi Fortson KC, defending Kantors, said his client had shown considerable remorse for his actions.

Moreover, he noted that Kantors had taken proactive steps to address his alcoholism.

Mr Fortson KC said: "The defendant is clearly alive to the fact that he needed treatment and help."

"The defendant has taken steps to seek assistance - to mitigate and to reduce the level of his drinking, and to abstain from drinking, and to take control of the drugs that had had an effect on his mental state."

Kantors had pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) in relation to the two non-fatal attacks.

Sentencing Kantors today, Judge Levett said he did not believe the defendant's claims that he could not account for his actions on the night of the murder.

He noted that Kantors had confessed the stabbing to another person less than an hour later.

Kantors and Leigavnieks were known to each-other, having previously worked at a factory together.

Judge Levett told the defendant: "I am quite sure that you took that knife to the scene as part and parcel of a plan to stab Agris."

In the end, Kantors was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 21 years and nine months.

Rounding off his remarks today, Judge Levett noted that the stabbing had had a highly negative impact on a tight-knit community.

He said that Kantors had gained entry to his victims' homes due to their doors being left unlocked - a fact which testified to the degree of trust between neighbours in Leiston.

Judge Levett concluded: "Jealousy and anger, fuelled by alcohol, make a very dangerous cocktail."