Cambridge man jailed for at least 16 years after murdering former flatmate in passport row

A Cambridge man who strangled his former flatmate to death after an argument about a missing passport has been jailed for at least 16 years.

Jonathon Austin, 23, visited Neil Lakhani, 38, on 17 September at his flat in Greengates Court off Histon Road in Cambridge, which they had previously shared.

A court heard Austin, who had recently moved to another flat in the block, withdrew some cash at about 10am and visited the nearby Co-op, before heading back to Mr Lakhani’s home.

When he returned, they argued and Mr Lakhani accused Austin of stealing his passport.

They fought and Austin strangled Mr Lakhani.

Austin initially phoned his father to tell him what he had done, before calling the ambulance service at about 11.30am, saying Mr Lakhani was not breathing.

Emergency services arrived, but Mr Lakhani was pronounced dead by paramedics at 12.15pm.

A post-mortem examination at Addenbrooke’s Hospital concluded Mr Lakhani had died as a result of compression of the neck.

Austin, also fo Greengates Court, denied murder but was found guilty in April following a trial at Huntingdon Law Courts.

He was jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 16 years, at the same court today (Friday, 6 June).

Det Insp Lee Martin said: “This began as a trivial argument about a passport but soon escalated to violence.

“There was ample opportunity for Austin to leave the flat, but instead he tragically chose to subject Mr Lakhani to a prolonged assault.

“His actions that day led to a man losing his life and have caused devastation for Mr Lakhani’s friends and family.

“No sentence can ever bring Mr Lakhani back, but I hope the conclusion of the court process provides some comfort to them.”