Oskars Kantors from Leiston jailed for life for murder

Oskars Kantors, 29, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, November 17, and was sentenced for murdering 41-year-old Agris Leigavnieks in Leiston in October last year.  

Judge Martyn Levett said: “This case demonstrates jealousy and anger fuelled by anger makes for a dangerous cocktail."

He added it was "one more needless death" and said "knife crime yet again blights communities".

He imposed a life sentence on Mr Kantors of which he will have to serve a minimum of 21 years and 9 months before he can be considered for early release by the parole board.

Oskars Kantors (Image: Suffolk Police)

Kantors, of Old School Close, Leiston, had also been charged with two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm against two other victims, which he had previously admitted.  

 He had previously denied one count of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter. 

Mr Kantors had his head tilted down and was looking at the floor as the sentence was read out.

Judge Levett told him: "There can be no doubt in my mind that the assaults and the killing of Agris were committed with a degree of premeditation because I'm quite sure you had become insanely jealous of your partner and you were seeking retribution."

Earlier in the trial, Kantors had admitted wanting to put Leigavnieks “in hospital”, believing him to be having an affair with Kantors’ girlfriend. 

At 8.50pm on October 17, 2022, police were called by the Ambulance Service reporting that a man had been assaulted at an address in Old School Close.

The victim - Agris Leigavnieks, aged 41 and also of Old School Close – was taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition, where he later sadly died.

Oskars Kantors was arrested near to the scene later the same evening.

During his evidence, the defendant admitted to installing a secret camera in his home to allegedly watch his puppy when he was not home. 

However, the prosecutor said that the defendant had told his friend he set up the camera as he was suspicious of his girlfriend and Leigavnieks’ relationship. 

Police outside a property in Old School Lane in Leiston. (Image: Newsquest)

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

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

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

Judge Martyn Levett added following the sentencing that he wanted to commend the paramedics for tyring to save Mr Leigavnieks and said he felt 'pride' watching the CCTV footage of their work.

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick, the senior investigating officer, said: “These were senseless attacks with the most serious resulting in the loss of life.

"Oskars Kantors’ jealousy over his girlfriend’s previous relationship with Agris Leigavnieks and his ex-girlfriend’s new relationship at that time, all unravelled on 17 October last year as he carried out his spree of attacks.

“Having punched a man in the face so many times he required hospital treatment, he later went on to enter three houses next to each other In Old School Close, subjecting a young mother in one of those addresses to a terrifying ordeal while she was bathing her baby, before he then entered the address of Agris, killing him in cold blood.

“The murder took place in a close-knit residential area of Leiston and the impact was felt by the majority of the people in Old School Close. I would like to thank the residents for providing evidence to help the investigation team build a comprehensive case.

“A life has been needlessly lost and our thoughts are with all those associated with Agris Leigavnieks.”