This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42634353
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Allotment 'blighted by disputes' before alleged murder | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An allotment was blighted by disputes before a grandmother was found strangled on the site, a court heard. | An allotment was blighted by disputes before a grandmother was found strangled on the site, a court heard. |
Widow Lea Adri-Soejoko, 80, was allegedly beaten up by fellow plot-holder Rahim Mohammadi in February last year, and then throttled her with a lawnmower cable to stop her reporting him. | Widow Lea Adri-Soejoko, 80, was allegedly beaten up by fellow plot-holder Rahim Mohammadi in February last year, and then throttled her with a lawnmower cable to stop her reporting him. |
Her body was found in a locked shed on the Colindale allotments in north London. | Her body was found in a locked shed on the Colindale allotments in north London. |
Mr Mohammadi denies murder. | Mr Mohammadi denies murder. |
Giving evidence, Mrs Adri-Soejoko's daughter Tessa said her mother would talk to her about problems on the allotment. | Giving evidence, Mrs Adri-Soejoko's daughter Tessa said her mother would talk to her about problems on the allotment. |
She said: "She saw it as part of her role that, with a large quantity of people, there was bound to be some disputes and it would not always be straightforward." | She said: "She saw it as part of her role that, with a large quantity of people, there was bound to be some disputes and it would not always be straightforward." |
Following an allotment meeting in September 2016, Ms Adri-Soejoko found out from her daughter Amber that her mother had been involved in an incident involving Mr Mohammadi. | Following an allotment meeting in September 2016, Ms Adri-Soejoko found out from her daughter Amber that her mother had been involved in an incident involving Mr Mohammadi. |
The court has heard that the defendant had become verbally abusive towards the pensioner and swore after she told him to shut up. | The court has heard that the defendant had become verbally abusive towards the pensioner and swore after she told him to shut up. |
Prosecutor John Price QC asked: "What was her attitude to it with you?" | Prosecutor John Price QC asked: "What was her attitude to it with you?" |
Ms Adri-Soejoko replied: "She seemed to brush me off. And, to clarify what that means, she was not her normal forthright self. She was subdued in her manner. | Ms Adri-Soejoko replied: "She seemed to brush me off. And, to clarify what that means, she was not her normal forthright self. She was subdued in her manner. |
"She did not argue with me when I scolded her about the confrontation. | "She did not argue with me when I scolded her about the confrontation. |
"I said to her that she could not speak to Rahim in that way, that he's not family." | "I said to her that she could not speak to Rahim in that way, that he's not family." |
She also told the jury about another dispute on the allotment which she found out about on February 24, just days before her mother's death, involving claims a woman threatened a man with a knife. | She also told the jury about another dispute on the allotment which she found out about on February 24, just days before her mother's death, involving claims a woman threatened a man with a knife. |
Previously friendly | Previously friendly |
Ms Adri-Soejoko told the court the allotment was her mother's "passion". | Ms Adri-Soejoko told the court the allotment was her mother's "passion". |
She said: "She loved the work at the allotment and she spent a lot of time almost running the place. She really enjoyed it." | She said: "She loved the work at the allotment and she spent a lot of time almost running the place. She really enjoyed it." |
The witness said she had met Mr Mohammadi several times at her mother's house. | The witness said she had met Mr Mohammadi several times at her mother's house. |
Cross-examining, Tyrone Smith QC asked about her mother's relationship with the accused. | Cross-examining, Tyrone Smith QC asked about her mother's relationship with the accused. |
He said: "Before the AGM meeting in September 2016, were you aware they were on friendly terms?" | He said: "Before the AGM meeting in September 2016, were you aware they were on friendly terms?" |
Ms Adri-Soejoko agreed. | Ms Adri-Soejoko agreed. |
'Sounded distress' | |
Colindale Allotment Association chairman Clive Critchley told jurors that Mr Mohammadi was one of three people who frequently used the mower shed where Mrs Adri-Soejoko's body was found. | |
On the day of the killing, Mohammadi had texted him twice, about meeting his psychotherapist and to report that another plot-holder had complained about his neighbour, the court heard. | |
The defendant rang him the next day, saying he had heard that Mrs Adri-Soejoko had been found dead and had gone to the allotment with a friend, only to find it taped off by police. | |
Mr Critchley said: "He sounded distressed. It sounded like he wanted more details and also to share. I think he said something like "what happened to Lea?". | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
Previous version
1
Next version