A LEE man has been found guilty of murdering his 21-year-old wife before trying to flee the country.

Orina Morawiec was found dead in a bikini with stab wounds to her neck and chest in the flat she shared with her husband in Eastdown Park on August 14 last year.

News Shopper: Orina Morowiec

Farhad Safi, 23, an Afghan national, was found guilty of his wife’s murder by an Old Bailey jury today (March 5).

The body of Polish-born Orina was discovered after she did not turn up to meet her mother Anna Morwawiec who she had arranged to go swimming with at 1pm.

Safi fled on the day of the murder and was found by Kent police two days later walking along the A20 dual carriageway near the entrance of the Channel Tunnel.

The couple met at Lewisham College where Orina had studied tourism and administration. She converted to Islam after her marriage in June 2012.

The court heard Safi was "controlling", made his wife wear a headscarf and did not let her meet her friends or wear make-up.

The jury also heard how the victim’s mother once found two large knives in the pair's kitchen and had hidden them with her daughter who was concerned.

Prosecuting, Zoe Johnson told the jury Orina wanted a divorce which might have contributed to Safi, an asylum seeker, becoming angry and killing her.

During his interview, Safi handed police a prepared statement in which he denied all responsibility for Orina's murder but claimed a gang had killed her in order to put him in prison.

Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn, of the Met Police's homicide and serious crime command, said: "Safi has given no true explanation as to why he murdered Orina that day.

“He concocted an elaborate story in a prepared statement which he gave to police in order to cover up his involvement in her death.

"Orina had her whole life ahead of her and this was brutally taken away from her.

“Orina's mother has been left completely devastated and I hope that today's conviction brings a small amount of solace to the family."

Safi is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey tomorrow (March 6).