A JILTED husband killed his wife’s lover by thrusting a kitchen knife into his heart in a night-time confrontation at his home.

Grzegorz Dzierzak seized the weapon when Edgarzas Maslauskas kicked in his front door after 3am, fuelled by cocaine and vodka, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Mr Maslauskas, 23, was having an affair with Dzierzak’s wife, Magdalena, and she had left the marital home in Chapel Lane, Keighley, prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said.

Dzierzak, 34, remained devoted to 26-year-old Magdalena and was texting and calling her when she was out with her lover in Keighley’s K2 nightclub on October 26 last year, the court heard.

Mr Maslauskas, who was in an aggressive mood and got into a fight, took Magdalena’s phone from her and saw loving and desperate messages from her husband, Mr Sharp said.

He went round to Dzierzak’s home, accompanied by his cousin Igor Jazveniuk and another man.

Mr Maslauskas got into a scuffle with Dzierzak after he had broken down the door.

He died at the scene after receiving eight stab wounds, to the chest, abdomen and arms.

Dzierzak also stabbed Mr Jazveniuk, who suffered two serious wounds. One penetrated his heart and was life-threatening, Mr Sharp said. He survived after emergency surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

Dzierzak thought both men were dead. He texted his wife to say: “I killed them both.”

Mrs Dzierzak ran to the scene, distraught, and told the police: “It’s my fault, but I can’t help loving two men.”

Dzierzak pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Maslauskas. His not guilty plea to murder was accepted by the Crown on the day he was to stand trial.

He also admitted unlawfully wounding Mr Jazveniuk.

Mr Maslauskas’s mother, Larisa, said in a victim impact statement: “I have been killed as well. I can’t put into words what this has done to me.”

Rupert Bowers QC, Dzierzak’s barrister, said he conceded his actions were excessive self defence rather than a loss of control.

“This is a case where every aspect is tragic in the true sense,” he said.

Emotions ran high that night and some of the protagonists were intoxicated by drink and drugs.

Dzierzak was the victim of a surprise attack at his own home in the dark after 3am.

“He acted on impulse and must bear the consequences of arming himself,” Mr Bowers said.

Dzierzak could well have been seriously injured at the hands of three assailants.

“He is devastated by the consequences of his actions, upon himself and others, in particular his family and that of the deceased, despite the circumstances of the incident,” Mr Bowers said.

His wife was back with him and regularly visiting him in prison.

“One can only imagine the guilt that she must feel,” Mr Bowers said.

Judge Peter Benson arranged to sentence Dzierzak at 10.30am tomorrow.

The defendant, who is remanded in custody, has the assistance of a Polish interpreter.

He is supported by members of his family who waved from the public gallery when he was produced in the dock.