Bristol County DA: Fall River man sentenced to prison in beating death of another man

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 52-year-old Fall River man was convicted after a third jury trial in the Fall River Superior Court of Involuntary Manslaughter.

Scott Rodrigues was sentenced by the Honorable Brian Glenny to serve 8 to 10 years in the State Prison.  The Commonwealth recommended a State Prison sentence of 12 to 15 years. The defendant’s sentence is deemed served. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Karen O’Sullivan and Russ Eonas.

On October 1, 2017, Rodrigues and co-defendant, Mendi Perry, were at a house on Albion Street in Fall River.  After both left the house on Albion Street, they encountered the victim, Dennis Cousineau, who lived across the street.  The defendant and co-defendant were impaired due to ingesting narcotics, and the victim had a high blood alcohol level.  A neighbor heard a loud bang at the intersection of Albion and Bedford Streets.  When the neighbor went to her window, she heard the defendant and the victim arguing.  She also saw Rodrigues swing at the victim and knocked the victim to the ground.  While the victim was on the ground, the defendant was heard screaming at the victim that he should have minded his own business and that he told the victim to leave them alone.  Once the victim was on the ground, the neighbor observed Rodrigues punching and kicking the victim.  Another neighbor observed both Rodrigues and Perry kicking the victim.  One neighbor came to the porch and told the pair to stop kicking the victim.  Perry then told the neighbor that they would be next.  While neighbors were calling 911, a Fall River Officer saw the victim on the ground and encountered Rodrigues and Perry in the area.   The victim was transported from the scene to Rhode Island Hospital where he died five days later from blunt force trauma. 

Rodrigues’ first jury trial resulted in a Second-Degree Murder conviction, which was overturned by the Appeals Court.  The defendant’s second trial resulted in a hung jury.  This was his third jury trial. 

“This was a senseless beating of an incapacitated victim who could not defend himself. This was the third trial for this defendant, and I am pleased that the jury held the defendant responsible for causing the victim’s death.  I would like to thank prosecutor Karen O’Sullivan for her efforts and perseverance in prosecuting this defendant three times ,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.