Man who murdered ex-flatmate jailed for 16 years

Jonathon Austin must serve at least 16 years before being eligible for parole

A man who murdered his former flatmate has been jailed for life.

Neil Lakhani, 38, was strangled to death at his home in Greengates Court, Cambridge, in September.

A trial at Huntingdon Crown Court was told that he and Jonathon Austin, 23, had argued after Mr Lakhani accused him of stealing his passport.

Austin, who had moved to a different flat in the complex off Histon Road, was found guilty of murder and was told he must serve a minimum of 16 years before being considered for parole.

"You knew exactly what you were doing," said Judge David Farrell.

"I am sure that you intended to kill him."

Judge Farrell said evidence showed that Mr Lakhani had cancer, a history of drug use, and mental health issues.

He said the victim experienced "mood swings" and could appear aggressive.

Prosecutors said they argued, before Austin then attacked him and strangled him. Evidence showed Mr Lakhani subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest.

Austin had autism, but Judge Farrell said this did not have a "significant impact" on his "culpability".

"You knew how to handle him," the judge told him.

"You are much bigger, fitter and a younger man."

He said Austin had disarmed Mr Lakhani and could have "simply walked out".

Neil Lakhani and Jonathon Austin had lived in the same flat at Greengates Court off Histon Road

In a statement read out by a lawyer, Mr Lakhani's mother Chandrika Lakhani said her son's death had a "devastating impact".

"No words can truly express the depth of my pain," she said.

"There is always an empty chair."

Neil Lakhani had cancer and had lost a lot of weight in the months leading up to his death, the court was told

Austin, who had no previous convictions and is from South Africa, had told police how Mr Lakhani was "often abusive" and behaved erratically.

He said he stopped living with Mr Lakhani a few weeks earlier.

Barrister Nichola Cafferkey, who represented Austin, argued that her client may have thought he had no choice but to defend himself.

As well as autism he had a background of trauma, she said.

A detective who led the investigation said after the hearing "walking away is always the best option".

"There were plenty of opportunities in that flat for Mr Austin to walk away - and he chose not to," said Det Insp Lee Martin.

"And at one point he said in court that he wanted to stay to be the bigger man."