The Central Criminal Court. Image: LMMNews

A 41-year-old man from Hackney has gone on trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of Lea Adri-Soejoko.

The 80-year-old widow was strangled in February 2017, and her body found in a shed at the Colindale allotments where both she and the accused, Rahim Mohammadi, had plots.

Lea Adri-Soejoko. Image: Met Police

Prosecutor John Price QC has told the jury that Mr Mohammadi and the victim had had a long standing rift following a ‘notorious’ disagreement at an allotment meeting several months before Mrs Adri-Soejoko’s death.

Mr Price said that other plot holders have described Mr Mohammadi as displaying ‘threatening, intimidating, aggressive and sometimes even physically violent behaviour.’

Mr Price alleged that the defendant was at the allotments for five hours on the day of the killing, and was seen there by two other plot holders.

The jury heard his DNA was found on the lawnmower cord used to strangle her.

It is alleged that Mr Mohammadi beat up Mrs Adri-Soejoko, and then murdered her to stop her reporting the attack.

Mr Mohammadi denies the murder, and the case is continuing.