A Suffolk man who confessed to fatally stabbing popular restaurant cook Terrence K. Britt last April will not be sentenced to death.

Korey L. Jacobs, whose capital murder trial was to begin this week, pleaded guilty Monday in Suffolk Circuit Court to the lesser charge of first degree murder. The plea agreement calls for Jacobs, 33, to serve a life sentence for Britt’s death.

If convicted of capital murder, he could have received the death penalty.

Jacobs also pleaded guilty to one count each of robbery and unarmed statutory burglary in the plea agreement. He will be sentenced on Dec. 12.

Britt was discovered dead in his apartment overtop the now-closed Horseshoe Caf\u00E9, at the corner of Liberty and East Washington streets, on April 1.

Jacobs, who at one time had been romantically involved with Britt, admitted to breaking into the man’s apartment and stabbing him several times, said Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Will Jamerson. He said the two were involved in an argument, during which Jacobs stabbed the victim and fled the apartment with a purse.

Britt’s family was in the courtroom Monday, quietly observing as Judge Carl Eason accepted Jacobs’ plea bargain. Although they declined to comment, Jamerson said prosecutors have stayed in touch with family members about plea options since the beginning of the process.

&uot;This agreement guarantees that he (Jacobs) will be sentenced to life,&uot; said Jamerson. &uot;We know that he is going to be incarcerated and that…he won’t be able to do this to someone else.&uot;

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com