A man accused of murdering a dad by stabbing him through the heart in Dunkirk has admitted killing him in a handwritten note held up in court.

Dumitru Palazu was in the dock in the middle of his murder trial when he held aloft a piece of paper reading: "I am guilty. Manslaughter.”

It came ahead of Palazu sacking his legal team last week, but can only be reported for the first time today.

With new defence lawyers now in place, the 48-year-old has officially pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Alexandru Constaninescu at the Brotherhood Wood site in Dunkirk.

But the Crown Prosecution Service has not accepted the plea, with the murder trial continuing today.

Palazu is accused of stabbing 30-year-old Mr Constatinescu to death at the caravan site on April 7 this year.

In an incident caught on CCTV, Palazu is alleged to have run towards his victim shouting: “Move aside, I swear on my family’s life, I’m going to cut that one up.”

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC claimed that after trading blows, Mr Constantinescu was stabbed under the arm by Palazu as he raised it to throw another punch.

The court heard how the two men were both living on the caravan site, which was populated in-part by Romanians from Calarasi and Craiova.

After he was stabbed, Mr Constantinescu is alleged to have said: “I know the bald one knifed me to death. I know I am dying. My only regret is that my child is to be left an orphan.”

He died at the scene despite the best efforts of paramedics.

The trial had earlier heard how Palazu had killed twice before, with convictions in his native country 10 and 30 years ago.

The jury was told he was convicted of manslaughter in May 1989 in Calarasi, where he had been drinking beer with friends.

It is said he kicked his victim, Anghel Aurelian, in the chin, causing him to lose his balance and fall.

He hit his head on a concrete platform, suffering a traumatic brain injury which led to his death.

Palazu was also convicted in 2009 of causing bodily harm resulting in the death of his father-in-law, Cotac Constantin.

The pair had been drinking in a bar called Sing Sing.

Mr Bennetts QC said: “The defendant’s lover, now his wife Florentina David, then arrived and the three of them left the bar and went to Constantin’s apartment.

“There was an argument and Palazu kicked and punched Mr Constantin in the head multiple times, which caused his death. The defendant was convicted of this offence in 2010.”

Judge Adele Williams told the jury that they should not be prejudiced because of the convictions.

The prosecution say it shows Palazu has a tendency to use unlawful violence.

He is expected to give evidence later today.

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