Man, 80, guilty of murdering neighbour, 76

An 80-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a 76-year-old neighbour.

Peter Kindell attacked John Jones with a hammer and knife at a housing complex for over-60s where they lived in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on 3 January, a trial heard.

Jurors at Aylesbury Crown Court heard the two men had been involved in a long-running dispute over smoking and noise at the complex in Silverdale Close.

Judge Jonathan Cooper adjourned sentencing to a date to be fixed.

Miranda Moore KC, prosecuting, had told jurors how Kindell hit Mr Jones over the head "again and again" with a hammer then stabbed him with a large kitchen knife.

Miss Moore said there was "absolutely no doubt or dispute" that he "unlawfully" killed Mr Jones, a retired engineer.

Lawyers representing Kindell, a musician and retired sound engineer, argued that at the time of the killing he had an "abnormality of mental functioning", meaning he was guilty of manslaughter, but not murder.

Jurors retired to deliberate late on Tuesday, and returned on Thursday, unanimously finding Kindell guilty of murder .

Kindell had been remanded in custody after the attack and jurors were told he had been in a hospital.

He had sat in the dock accompanied by nurses during the trial.

Miss Moore argued there was a "logical reason" for the attack.

She said it was researched and planned and "not some spontaneous aberration of a troubled mind".

Miss Moore said the two men had a long-running dispute, dating back over two years.

"Mr Kindell didn't like Mr Jones living in the flat below him," she said.

"Mr Jones was a smoker - Mr Kindell objected to smoke coming into his windows."

She said Mr Jones, who had two sons and lived alone, had complained to the managers of the complex about Kindell being "noisy".

Miss Moore said Kindell was interested in music, had a "sort of home recording studio", and "played very loud music".

Two female neighbours had gone to Mr Jones' aid and Mr Kindell "ran off", Miss Moore said.

One had called 999 - and Mr Jones had been able to speak to an emergency services operator.

Miss Moore told jurors: "Mr Jones said 'I walked in the door and went to go into my flat and this bloke from upstairs started hitting me with a hammer'."

She said Mr Jones had told the operator: "He said I had attacked him for the last two years... I haven't attacked him at all... I don't have anything to do with him."

Miss Moore said Kindell had returned with a large kitchen knife and stabbed Mr Jones in the chest.

"One single blow," she said. "Effectively killing Mr Jones there and then."

She said the 999 call was being made when Mr Jones was stabbed, and told jurors what the recording of the call had picked up.

"A female voice says 'what have you got?'," said Miss Moore. "Then, 'no, no, no'. Then screaming."

Det Insp Nick Hind, a member of Thames Valley Police's major crime unit, said after the hearing: "Whatever the reasons were for Kindell's actions on 3 January, there can be no excuses for what he did.

"He has now been held accountable and been found guilty of murder."

Det Insp Hind added: "I would like to publicly acknowledge the courage and selflessness of the two women who went to the aid of Mr Jones, and also to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Jones's family.

"They have all been remarkably dignified in light of this horrendous incident."

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