Man stabbed hairdresser to death after homosexual advances, court told

A MAN stabbed and slashed an Ipswich hairdresser to death because he made homosexual advances to him, a court heard today.

Rodney Greenland, of Manchester Road, Ipswich, denies murdering Simon Amers, 36, sometime between July 27 and 30 at Mr Amers home in Widgeon Close, in the Chantry area of the town.

Prosecutor Andrew Jackson told the jury at the beginning of Greenland's Ipswich Crown Court trial today that the 47-year-old had already admitted at a previous hearing killing Mr Amers.

The two men, who did not know each other, had met in The Plough public house in Dogs Head Street, Ipswich when they were out drinking in the town on July 27. The pair then went back to Mr Amers' flat late that night.

Mr Jackson told the jury they would hear evidence from a forensic pathologist that Mr Amers, who was homosexual, had seven stab wounds to his chest and abdomen and slash wounds to his throat.

His body was discovered three days later by a friend who had not been able to get in touch with him.

The trial continues.