Massachusetts woman accused of deadly assault on New Bedford homeless man sentenced to prison in Fall River Superior Court

A Massachusetts woman accused of an assault that led to a New Bedford man’s death was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty in Fall River Superior Court.

33-year-old Nina Busnengo, with a last known address in Mattapoisett, previously pled not guilty to Manslaughter, Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Unarmed Robbery, and Larceny From a Person.

Busnengo was indicted on October 3rd, 2024, and was later held on $20,000 cash bail.

A hearing on competency took place and, according to court records, Busnengo was found competent to stand trial after a competency evaluation.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 3:40 a.m. on August 20th, 2024, New Bedford Police received a 911 call for a man with injury at 41 Rockdale Avenue in front of Seabra Foods.  

Upon arrival, first responders located the victim, 58-year-old Stephen Oswald of New Bedford, suffering from an apparent head injury.  He was pronounced deceased by New Bedford EMS Medics at 3:56 a.m.

Court documents show that Busnengo was interviewed by New Bedford Police and admitted to “stomping” on Oswald’s head after she said Oswald took her belongings without her permission.

In July 2026, Busnengo pled guilty to Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Larceny From a Person. The Manslaughter and Unarmed Robbery charges were dropped.

According to court records, on Monday, Busnengo was sentenced to not less than 2 1/2 years to not more than 3 years on the Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury and 3 years to serve consecutively on the Larceny From a Person charge with credit for 722 days already served. She was also issued 3 years of probation.