A Mottingham man has been found guilty of manslaughter after stabbing his neighbour to death on Boxing Day in a long-running row over excessive noise.

Chris Fruen knifed Patrick Mulroe, known to family as Patsy, at least six times during the struggle in Luxfield Road, Mottingham, in the early hours of December 26.

The jury at Inner London Crown Court found Fruen, 52, guilty of an alternative charge of manslaughter today, after he initially faced one count of murder which he denied.

Opening the case last week, jurors heard that despite the efforts of paramedics, who performed emergency surgery on Mr Mulroe outside his home, the 64-year-old bled to death after suffering multiple stab wounds.

Prosecutor Simon Denison QC described both the victim and the defendant as “decent, hard-working family men”, adding: “which makes what happened in the early hours of Boxing Day last year all the more extraordinary”.

The court heard there had been a long-running disagreement between the neighbours over excessive noise coming from the Mulroe’s home, and the Fruens had made three complaints to Greenwich Council.

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Luxfield Road where Patrick Mulroe was stabbed to death.

The Fruens were seeing a friend into an Uber cab outside their home on Boxing Day when Tina Mulroe – the victim’s wife – called out of the window “it’s alright when you want to make some noise”.

The remark sparked an argument between Mrs Mulroe and Sandra Fruen – the defendant’s wife – which continued outside over the hedges between their homes.

Hearing the commotion, both men came outside and a fight broke out with Fruen still clutching a kitchen knife which he claimed he had been using to cut up the turkey.

With Mr Mulroe unaware he was holding a knife, Fruen was seen repeatedly hitting into his side as the pair struggled against each other.

When they were pulled apart Mrs Mulroe and her step-daughter Katie Barrett realised Mr Mulroe had been stabbed.

Bleeding heavily through his checked shirt, Mr Mulroe was helped inside by his wife as their children tried to get help, the court heard.

Paramedics tried to rush Mr Mulroe to hospital, but despite their efforts he died on the pavement outside his home.

A post-mortem examination revealed Patrick Mr Mulroe had been stabbed six times during the assault and he had died from a stab wound to the chest.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, who led the investigation, said: "Christopher Fruen chose to arm himself with a knife and confront Patrick in the street, bringing what on the face of it seems a dispute about a minor noise issue to a brutal conclusion.

"Fruen claimed he acted in self-defence and initially denied using a knife - I am glad the jury have seen through his attempts to deflect responsibility for his actions and found him guilty.

"This was a senseless attack on a man who had been celebrating Christmas with his family around him.

“The tragic events of that night means Patrick’s family will be denied such celebrations in the coming years. I can only hope Fruen’s conviction can bring some closure to them."