A Purley mother accused of hiding her son from police after he stabbed a grandfather to death in a café has been found not guilty of assisting an offender.

Victoria Passley-Quesada, of Lower Barn Road, Purley, was also accused of looking up flights to help her son Matthew Quesada, 26, escape capture, after he knifed Alan Smith to death in front of his family.

Mr Smith, 63, was stabbed five times in an east London café, moments after asking if a distressed child with Quesada was ok, on March 26 last year.

The Old Bailey heard Mr Smith had expressed concern for Quesada's three-year-old daughter, who was crying, but Quesada, then 25, took offence, verbally abusing Mr Smith before leaving the café.

Mr Smith, who had been due to meet his daughter and son-in-law, decided to go to an alternative café on the opposite side of the road, but minutes later Quesada appeared again.

He walked into the café alone before producing a knife from his sleeve and stabbing Mr Smith five times. Quesada only left the café when a chair was thrown in his direction.

On Friday, Quesada, of no fixed address, was found guilty of murder and jailed for life with a minimum of 26 years.

His girlfriend, Maria Bridgette, 26, of Hibbert Road, E17, who was found guilty of assisting an offender, given a nine-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to carry out 200-hours unpaid work.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Steve Meechan said: "Alan Smith was a well-meaning man who simply wanted to enquire about a distressed child. He paid for his concerns with his life.

"Not happy with verbally abusing Mr Smith, Quesada went on to carry out a frenzied and unprovoked attack on a defenceless man.

"His actions have left a family grieving for a loving father who had simply left his home for a meal."