The jury are now deliberating on the case of a Leiston man accused of murder by stabbing another man to death out of jealousy.

A judge finished summarising all the evidence for the case of Oskars Kantors, 29, at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday.

He is accused of murdering 41-year-old Agris Leigavnieks in Leiston in October last year.

Kantors, of Old School Close, Leiston, has denied one count of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

The court heard during Judge Martyn Levett’s summary that Kantors had said earlier in the trial he had admitted wanting to put Mr Leigavnieks “in hospital”, believing him to be having an affair with his girlfriend, but did not intend to kill him.

Kantors has also admitted to being a “functioning alcoholic”, having begun drinking alcohol at the age of nine when he lived in an orphanage in Latvia.

Mr Leigavanieks was found in his room by other residents of his shared accommodation in Old School Lane. He was found in a crouched position on the floor and described as grey and barely breathing.

Kantors has admitted two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm on a man and a woman on the same evening as the alleged murder.

The prosecution disputes whether Kantors’ reliance on alcohol means that his actions should be viewed with diminished responsibility.

However, previously defence barrister Rudi Forston cautioned the jury to be wary of “stereotyping”.

“We are not dealing with a ‘functioning alcoholic,’” he said. “We are dealing with a person with a recognised medical condition, and it has got a name: alcohol dependency syndrome."

The judge told the jury in the summary: “You will consider the effect and seriousness of alcohol dependency.

He added: “You must consider all the evidence including the opinions of the medical experts.”

The jury were told to come back at 10am on Wednesday and that until further notice they need a unanimous verdict.