Jealousy-Fuelled Killer Oskars Kantors Found Guilty of Murder in Leiston
Oskars Kantors was found guilty at Ipswich Crown Court today, Wednesday 15 November, after a trial that lasted just over two weeks.
Series of Attacks Linked by Jealousy
Kantors, from Old School Close in Leiston, had admitted to two assaults causing actual bodily harm before being convicted of murder. The brutal incidents all happened on Monday 17 October 2022, driven by Kantors’ jealousy over his girlfriend’s alleged affairs.
- First attack, just before 5pm: Kantors struck a 50-year-old man at the flat of his ex-girlfriend off High Street, landing multiple punches to the face that required hospital treatment.
- Second attack, around 8.20pm: He entered a house in Old School Close where a woman was upstairs bathing her child. Kantors grabbed her by the hair, threw her to the floor, causing a knee injury. The assault wasn’t reported to police until after 9pm.
- Fatal attack, 8.50pm: Police were called after Agris Leigavnieks, 41, was found barely breathing at his home in Old School Close. Despite emergency care, he later died in Ipswich Hospital.
Kantors’ Arrest and Trial Details
Kantors was swiftly identified and arrested near the scene on the night of the attacks. Initially treated under police guard for injuries from a separate incident, he was later charged with murder on 20 October and appeared before magistrates the next day.
During the trial, it emerged that following a row with his girlfriend, Kantors had disclosed to a neighbour that he stabbed Leigavnieks and confessed to other assaults earlier that day, citing jealousy over suspected affairs as his motive.
Kantors admitted to drinking alcohol all day and said he intended to “put Mr Leigavnieks in hospital,” but denied wanting to kill him. He claimed diminished responsibility due to alcoholism, a defence supported by forensic psychiatrists.
Jury Rejects Alcohol Defence – Killer Convicted
The jury dismissed Kantors’ claim of diminished responsibility and delivered a unanimous verdict of guilty for murder.
Kantors remains in custody, awaiting sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 17 November.
