IPSWICH: A 21-year-old man accused of murder following an alleged knife attack in Chantry is due to enter his plea on January 20.

A short preliminary hearing for the case of Sebastian Kornjaca, of St Anthony’s Crescent, Ipswich, was held at the town’s crown court.

No application for bail was made on behalf of the electrical engineer who was employed at Felixstowe Docks. Kornjaca was remanded in custody until the next hearing of his case.

Friends of Lee Jackson, who died in a hallway at the flats in Chesterton Close where he lived, said they will remember him as a lovely man.

The 43-year-old, who was originally from London, had worked as a car valeter at Marshalls in the town, and then at Motor Clean, which is based at Ransomes Europark.

Theresa Wright, whose husband Paul is the manager at Motor Clean, said: “Lee was the most wonderful gentle giant. He came round and visited our home all the time. The children loved him – he was just a wonderful man.

“Lee was very chatty. He made you feel at ease. I only knew him for three or four months, but he was usually smiling and we hit it off with him straight away.

“You could have a laugh and a joke with him. He would say ‘all right my darling’. I would call him your old-style Londoner.”

Mr Jackson was pronounced dead at the flats after police were called shortly before 5am on Saturday.

Suffolk Constabulary have said a post mortem found his death was caused by blood loss as a result of an assault with a knife.

Kornjaca is also facing a charge of possession of an offensive weapon. A second man from Ipswich is currently on bail having been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder Mr Jackson.

The 22-year-old is due to return to the police investigation centre at Suffolk Constabulary’s Martlesham headquarters on December 5.

n If you would like to pay a tribute to Mr Jackson telephone The Evening Star news desk on 01473 324790.