Gardener guilty of killing gran, 80, in allotment dispute

AN asylum seeker has been convicted of murdering an elderly widow at an allotment.

Rahim Mohammadi beat up Lea Adri-Soejoko,

80, and then strangled her with a lawn mower cord.

The Old Bailey heard the Iranian Kurd, 42, had been involved with the allotments through Freedom from Torture, which helps sufferers from post-traumatic stress. But he fell out with Lea, who was secretary of the association.

In September 2016 Mohammadi, said to have a “volatile” temper, called her a “bloody old MURDER Lea and Mohammadi witch” at a meeting. John Price QC told jurors that Mohammadi killed Lea in February 2017 to “stop her complaining” after he attacked her at the site in Colindale, North London.

Lea’s body was found locked in a shed before he could move it. Mohammadi said he had gone to the allotments to buy opium for his bad back on the day of the killing.

He claimed he heard shouting but dismissed it as a drunken fight. DCI Noel McHugh said of Mohammadi: “He was aggressive, threatening and manipulative. There had been previous issues with him.” He paid tribute to Lea, saying she was “a lovely, caring lady”. Mohammadi, of Hackney, East London, sought asylum in 2005 and later got indefinite leave to remain. He was found guilty after a retrial and will be sentenced today.