Man who claimed victim ran onto knife found guilty of stabbing him by jury at Ipswich Crown Court

Ipswich charity worker Uldis Bokarts has been found guilty of stabbing a colleague in a dispute over missing cash.

Bokarts claimed victim Ivo Namnieks had run onto the knife during the disagreement and had denied the charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The 37-year-old from Ringham Road, Ipswich, said earlier in the trial he had fallen backwards after Mr Namnieks pushed him and he had taken a knife he used for preparing food out of his pocket because he thought it might cut him if he fell on it during the argument.

He claimed that Mr Namnieks had then run on to the knife. “He quickly ran at me and the knife somehow unexpectedly got into him,” Bokarts said.

As a result of the incident Mr Namnieks suffered a stab wound to the upper part of his stomach.

Mr Namnieks had told the court he and Bokarts both worked for the Clothes Aid charity. He said shortly before the alleged stabbing he asked his employer to transfer some money into Bokarts’ bank account as he didn’t have his own account.

Mr Namnieks asked Bokarts to withdraw the money from his account and leave it on a table in the living room but had later discovered it was missing.

Mr Namnieks said he suspected Bokarts of taking the money and had confronted him about it.

A jury at Ipswich Crown Court found Bokarts guilty of the charge yesterday and he will be sentenced in the week commencing December 15.