A MAN stabbed and slashed a hairdresser to death because he made homosexual advances to him, a court heard.Rodney Greenland denies murdering Simon Amers sometime between July 27 and 30 last year at Mr Amers' flat in Widgeon Close, Ipswich.

IPSWICH: A man stabbed and slashed a hairdresser to death because he made homosexual advances to him, a court heard.

Rodney Greenland denies murdering Simon Amers sometime between July 27 and 30 last year at Mr Amers' flat in Widgeon Close, Ipswich.

Prosecutor Andrew Jackson told Ipswich Crown Court yesterday that 47-year-old Greenland, of Manchester Road, Ipswich, had already admitted Mr Amers' manslaughter. Mr Amers' naked body was found face down at the foot of his stairs.

The jury heard that after Greenland's arrest he told detectives he had been abused at boarding school as a child.

Mr Jackson said: “The defendant told police that he had killed Mr Amers because Mr Amers had made what he, the defendant, said were unwanted sexual advances towards him.”

Greenland had alleged he told Mr Amers he was not interested after the 36-year-old stroked his leg. Greenland then attacked him with a knife he picked up in the kitchen when Mr Amers came up behind him and tried to turn him around.

The court heard the two men met in The Plough pub, in Dogs Head Street, Ipswich, around 11pm, while they were out drinking on July 27. Although they had only just met, the pair then went back to Mr Amers' flat.

Greenland told detectives later, he believed it was to continue drinking. However, the prosecution were adamant Greenland knew Mr Amers was homosexual.

Mr Jackson said Mr Amers sustained seven stab wounds to his chest and abdomen and slash wounds to his throat.

One of the injuries penetrated his left lung and another speared his liver and a major vein to the heart.

The court heard Mr Amers sustained defensive wounds to his fingers. His body was discovered three days later.

After Greenland had stabbed Mr Amers with a knife, he removed his own socks as they were drenched in blood. He then wrapped his feet in plastic bags, put his shoes on and left the flat leaving his socks in the bedroom.

Shortly after stabbing Mr Amers Greenland told a friend: “I have killed someone.”

Although the friend noticed the plastic bags on his feet and bloodstains on his trousers they did not believe him because he was drunk.

The court heard Greenland also went on to tell his ex-wife and daughter two days later what he had done and told them he was going to confess to police. Greenland was taken to hospital as they sought psychiatric help for him.

The following day Greenland told police, who found him drunk and slumped against his front door, that he had killed a man.

However, although police drove him around the area they did not believe anything had happened as Greenland was drunk and could not recall where it had happened.

When he was arrested shortly after Mr Amers' body was found he told police: “I was abused at boarding school as a boy. He touched me wrong. I just flipped and lost it.”

The trial continues.