TWO people have been convicted of the murder of Bournemouth man Angelo Rodrigues.

Tracy Ann Mansell and James Kinsley were found guilty of brutally killing the 44-year-old in his flat in Coleman Road, West Howe, following an ongoing neighbourhood dispute about noise.

The jury returned their unanimous verdicts at Winchester Crown Court following five and a half hours of deliberations.

Kinsley, 40, and Mansell, 56, who clutched a bible, showed no emotion as the verdicts were read to the court.

There were gasps from the public gallery from family and friends of the defendants.

The court had heard that Mansell stabbed neighbour Mr Rodrigues around 20 times with a broken pair of scissors after getting into a rage about noise coming from his flat.

Boyfriend Kinsley, 40, of Hinton Road, Bournemouth, pinned Mr Rodrigues down during the attack before assaulting him.

The court had heard that both Mr Rodrigues and Tracy Mansell were known to be argumentative and could disturb others with their music or shouting.

The feud between them had been going on for years, according to neighbours.

Mansell had made numerous complaints to Dorset Police and Bournemouth Borough Council about noise coming from Mr Rodrigues’ flat.

Graham Reeds QC, prosecuting, said Mansell has a number of previous convictions for drugs offences and Kinsley has convictions for only minor offences.

He said: “It is an aggravating feature that Mr Rodrigues was murdered in his own home.”

Mansell had admitted stabbing Mr Rodrigues but claims her actions were diminished due to the personality disorder she suffers from. The jury disagreed.

Mark Heyward QC said there were a number of mitigating factors for Mansell including a lack of premeditation, the fact she had a mental disability which lowered her degree of culpability and the stress she was suffering from the ongoing noise at the flats she shared with Mr Rodrigues.

David Phillips, representing Kinsley, asked the judge to forget his client’s previous convictions which do not include any violence and reiterated that Kinsley did not have any use of the scissor blade.

“His involvement was with the use of his fists.” Judge The Honourable Mr Justice Males adjourned sentencing until Wednesday morning.

  • DORSET Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team launched a thorough and detailed investigation following the murder of Angelo Rodrigues.

DI Marcus Hester of the Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team said: “This case involved a sudden attack on a man in his own home by his neighbours over a complaint about noise.

“The jury has listened to all the evidence and has reached the correct verdict. Tomorrow Tracy Mansell and James Kinsley will face the consequences of their actions.

“It is very sad that a neighbourly dispute should result in such tragic circumstances. My sympathy goes out to Angelo’s family and friends.”