Airport worker who 'bugged' house to listen to her roommate having sex before stabbing her to death is guilty of murder
A HEATHROW worker has been convicted of murdering his flatmate after listening to her have sex with a 'love virus' he planted in their home.
Sheldon Rodrigues became increasingly obsessed with Stephanie Hansen, 39, when she met boyfriend Celcso Cabillan.
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He stabbed her to death in her bedroom in their flat in Hayes. West London, before trying to blame Celsco for the brutal murder.
Rodrigues has now been convicted of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.
The court learned that the trio all worked as freight agents for Swissport Heathrow Airport.
Stephanie and Rodrigues had a sexual relationship several years earlier, but she did not want a further romantic relationship with him.
Instead, she started seeing their colleague Celsco, who was married with children, causing Rodrigues to become consumed with jealousy.
The 30-year-old started planting bugs around his and Stephanie's home in Hayes, west London, to spy on her.
He spent a total of 158 hours listening to his roommate while he was at work or visiting family in Goa – an average of about three hours a day.
Chillingly, he sent Stephanie a message threatening to 'hunt you down and destroy you', but he pretended it was from Celsco's wife.
He also posted a chilling image of the Joker on his Facebook page with the caption: “We stop looking for monsters under our beds when we realize they're inside us.”
When he returned, he “exploded with rage” and “brutally attacked her while she was still in her pajamas.
She was stabbed several times in the neck and repeatedly hit on the head, causing blood to splatter across her bedroom.
Rodrigues then called 999 and told the operator he had found her body, saying: “I think her boyfriend did something to her”.
After he was arrested, Police found messages showing his “long-standing obsession” with Stephanie, it was said.
He had texted his colleague saying, “I want you,” and also wrote, “It hurts to see you every day, knowing you'll never like me.”
The killer also told Stephanie he would wait for her for “50 years”, the court heard.
How to get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Contact charities for help, including Women's Aid's live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarize yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without saying anything, but calling “55” instead.
- Make sure you always have some money with you, including change for a phone booth or bus ticket.
- If you suspect your partner is going to attack you, try going to a lower-risk part of the house, such as where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where knives or other weapons are likely to be present. Avoid rooms where you could become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you could be locked in a closet or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity's email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women's Aid offers a live chat service – Available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You can also call the free 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
During his interrogation, Rodrigues was asked about a number of “flattering” photos of Stephanie that were found in his bedroom.
He also offered to change his lifestyle and get plastic surgery if it would make him more “attractive” to Stephanie.
And he messaged her asking if her boyfriend had a “bigger one” than him.
But Rodrigues denied he was in charge and instead claimed he was concerned about his housemate's welfare.
He was taken into custody and sentenced on March 8.
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