A WOMAN has been convicted of playing a role in the death of a rough sleeper, but cleared of murdering him.

Martin Dines, 56, was killed in St Mary’s Car Park in Balkerne Hill, Colchester, in April.

Heidi Kennedy, 47, Darren Miller, 46, and Mark Hartley, 32, were jointly charged with his murder.

Last week, the jury at Ipswich Crown Court convicted alcoholics Miller and Hartley of Mr Dines’ murder.

And after more than 17 hours of deliberations Kennedy was convicted of manslaughter by a majority of ten to two.

She wept in the dock as the verdict was read out and was warned by Judge Martyn Levett she could expect a lengthy sentence.

The two men are facing life in jail.

They will be sentenced together on January 11 next year and Judge Levett said he will have to decide in the two men’s case whether their actions had sadistic elements to determine their minimum term.

Addressing Kennedy, he said: “I am not going to sentence you today but your sentence is going to be long so you should prepare yourself for that.”

Mr Dines was attacked three times on the night he died, the first in Head Street outside the Royal Bank of Scotland where he regularly begged, and then in Crouch Street.

But the worst of the violence came in the stairwell of the town centre car park where he suffered horrific injuries to his genitals – the like of which a pathologist said he had never seen before- had his ear bitten off and his head stamped on repeatedly.

Gazette: Killed - Martin Dines, now 56, was found dead in St Mary’s car park

Kennedy and Hartley blamed Miller for the majority of the violence, while Miller blamed Hartley.

As Mr Dines laid lifeless the three went back to Hartley’s flat where they stayed for approximately 20 hours, only venturing out to steal more booze.

Police then arrived to arrest them.

Kennedy, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Colchester, Miller, of no fixed address, and Hartley, of New Kiln Road, Colchester, had all denied murder.

But Miller admitted to Mr Dines’ manslaughter while Kennedy admitted assaulting Lisa Peck, a friend of Mr Dines, on the same night.

After they returned their verdict Judge Levett thanked the jury for their “unstinting commitment” and excused them from further jury service for a decade.

He also apologised for delays of up to 90 minutes in the case because of Kennedy’s consistent late arrival to court from HMP Peterborough – which was no fault of her own.

Judge Levett also praised counsel on all sides and the police for their dedication.