Dorset Police news site

A man has been charged with murder following detailed enquires by detectives into the death of a woman in Bournemouth.

Dorset Police received a report at 2.25am on Wednesday 1 July 2026 that the body of a woman had been found at an address in Paddington Grove.

Officers attended alongside the ambulance service and very sadly the woman, named by her family as Mackala Higgins, aged 51, was confirmed dead at the scene.

Detectives from Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) have been leading a comprehensive investigation into the death and following their enquiries, 56-year-old Richard Sean Ball of Bournemouth was charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

Following further investigative work, Ball has now also been charged with murder.

Ball, a British national who gave his self-defined ethnicity as white British, is remanded in custody and is next due to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Friday 2 October 2026.

Officers also arrested a woman aged in her 30s of Bournemouth on suspicion of assisting an offender. She remains released under investigation as enquiries continue.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Jenkins, of MCIT, said: “Our thoughts remain very much with the family and loved ones of Mackala Higgins and we have continued to keep the family updated with developments in the investigation.

“Following further and extensive enquiries, we have liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service and it has authorised an additional charge of murder.

“I would like to issue a reminder that this matter remains the subject of active court proceedings and it is vital that the judicial process is allowed to follow its course. We would urge members of the public to refrain from any commentary, particularly online and on social media, that could potentially prejudice these proceedings.”

Detectives are continuing to urge anyone with information that might assist their investigation to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55260097894. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online using its website or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.