A MAN accused of murdering his flatmate in their Suffolk home has told a court he may have been under the influence of drink on the night of the stabbing.

A MAN accused of murdering his flatmate in their Suffolk home has told a court he may have been under the influence of drink on the night of the stabbing.

Kwabena Asumadu told a jury at Ipswich Crown Court that he was not a regular drinker - but had consumed Special Brew beer on the day he stands accused of murdering flatmate and work colleague Prince Kofi Koomson.

Asumadu, 28, a Suffolk car valeter, denies murdering Mr Koomson, who he was living with in St John's Place, Bury St Edmunds. But the court has heard that he has previously indicated at a hearing he would admit manslaughter.

Giving evidence yesterday, , Asumadu told the court he had been drinking before the killing in the early hours of Christmas Eve last year.

He said he and a friend brought some Special Brew to drink, despite the fact he had not touched alcohol for roughly four months.

When asked by Graham Parkins QC, prosecuting, if his actions that night had been affected by drink, Asumadu replied: “Yes, possibly.”

Asumadu said he had been in a happy mood when he returned to the house, dancing in his room to music, when Mr Koomson, 21, came to his room and asked him to turn the volume down.

After confrontations about the music, Asumadu had sat in the living room for about a minute, before he got up and sought a knife from the kitchen.

Asumadu told the jury: “My mood changed. I was out of control.”

Mr Parkins said Mr Koomson had suffered 13 stab wounds to his body including two, which according to an expert, would have required “substantial” force to inflict.

During police interviews Asumadu said he had some difficulties with Mr Koomson relating to work and pay issues and the way he was treated by him.

The trial resumes on Monday.