All of the murderers jailed for life in Suffolk in 2023

From the killing of a teenage schoolboy to a jealous crime of passion, here are all the people sentenced to lengthy prison sentences for taking another's life in 2023.

Peter Nash

Peter Nash has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for murdering his wife and daughter (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

Peter Nash, of Heath Estate, Great Waldingfield, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court charged with the deaths of Jillu and Louise Nash, which happened last September. 

A jury took just over two hours to convict him on May 12. 

During Nash’s three-week trial, the court heard that the body of his wife Jillu was found under a quilt on the living room floor at their home.

She had been asphyxiated and appeared to have had a T-shirt stuffed in her mouth while his daughter, Louise, died from a stab wound to her abdomen.

The court has heard that Mrs Nash had been having an affair for eight months with a man she worked with and had been preparing to leave Nash and set up a home with her lover.

Nash, who defended himself, claimed he had “lawfully” killed his wife because of her behaviour and killed his daughter because he was worried about what would happen to her.

He stabbed himself 22 times after killing his wife and daughter.

Nash was given a 40-year life imprisonment.

Oskars Kantors

Oskars Kantors was jailed for life after killing a man while in a jealous rage (Image: Suffolk Police)

Oskars Kantors, 29, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on November 17 for sentencing for murder.

He had previously been convicted of the murder of 41-year-old Agris Leigavnieks in Leiston in October 2022.

In the trial, Kantors had admitted wanting to put Mr Leigavnieks “in hospital”, believing him to be having an affair with Kantors’ girlfriend. 

Mr Leigavnieks was taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition, where he later died.

Kantors, of Old School Close, Leiston, was arrested near to the scene later the same evening.

Judge Martyn Levett said: “This case demonstrates jealousy and anger fuelled by anger makes for a dangerous cocktail."

He added it was "one more needless death" and said "knife crime yet again blights communities".

He imposed a life sentence on Kantors of which he will have to serve a minimum of 21 years and 9 months before he can be considered for early release by the parole board.

Ersan Ersoy

Former University of Suffolk employee Ertan Ersoy was jailed for life (Image: Essex Police)

A jury found Ertan Ersoy, a 51-year-old academic at the University of Suffolk in Ipswich, guilty of murder on October 26.

Ersoy, who stabbed his wife and fellow Suffolk academic Antonella Castelvedere to death at their Colchester home, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 23 years in jail at Chelmsford Crown Court the following day.

Judge Christopher Morgan told Ersoy, of Wickham Road, Colchester, his behaviour as a husband had been obsessive and controlling, adding the brutal attack he carried out on his wife was down to an inability to accept his wife’s independence.

“I’m satisfied the offence occurred because you couldn’t accept the autonomy of your wife, both in marriage and work life."

Ersoy’s controlling behaviour was epitomised by his spying on his wife, placing clandestine recording devices around the house and secretly recording marriage therapy sessions.

David and Edward King

David King (left) and Edward King were both given life sentences for killing Neil Charles in Bury St Edmunds

David King, 56, and his son, Edward King, 20, stabbed 47-year-old Neil Charles in the chest and in his knee in the early hours of June 20, 2021, and he died two days later in hospital.

The incident occurred 70 metres from their home in Radnor Close in Bury St Edmunds after Mr Charles tried the door handles of cars parked on their driveway.

They were given life sentences for murder on April 24 for delivering their "own form of justice" on Mr Charles.

Heather King, David King's wife and Edward King's mother, said after the sentencing that the pair were "wrongfully convicted" and revealed that they plan to appeal their murder convictions.

Murderer of Harley Barfield

Harley Barfield, who died from stab wounds earlier this year (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

After a trial at Ipswich Crown Court, the 17-year-old defendant, who has not been named due to his age, was found guilty of the murder of Harley Barfield by a majority verdict.

The trial was told the attacker confronted Harley in Haverhill on January 9 in a "jealous rage" and tried to goad him into a fight before stabbing him with a kitchen knife.

He was attacked by his new girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, who viewed Harley as an obstacle to a reunion.

Harley died two days later in hospital as a result of a fatal wound to his heart.

At a hearing on December 19, the defendant was handed a life sentence and told he will serve a minimum of 17 years in custody.

He had denied murder but admitted manslaughter and possessing the knife used in the attack.