Dawood Safi, 23, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Liverpool FC fan Wayne Broadhurst, 49, on grounds of diminished responsibility due to his mental state, Southwark Crown Court heard on Monday. The attack, described as 'vicious and ferocious,' occurred in Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge, west London, on October 27 last year.
Attack Details
Safi, an Afghan migrant who arrived in the UK in 2020, ambushed his landlord Shahzad Farrukh, 45, with a large knife in the annex of the house at about 4:45 pm. Jurors heard the weapon was a 'heavy, sharp and dangerous implement' used to stab Farrukh multiple times. Neighbours heard shouts and went to investigate. Witness Daniella Jarvis told police Safi looked 'like he was possessed' after the initial attacks.
Mr Broadhurst, a street sweeper and Reds supporter, emerged from an alleyway walking his dog. Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw KC said: 'It was his terrible misfortune to have been walking his dog and to have emerged into Midhurst gardens.' He added that for no apparent reason, Mr Broadhurst was stabbed to death in a frenzied, random and entirely unprovoked attack. A pathologist found he died 'almost instantly' after suffering about 14 stab wounds to his neck, chest, back and side.
Mental State and Background
The court heard Safi had become consumed by depressive psychosis in the days leading up to the attacks. He witnessed his father's killing during a land dispute in Afghanistan when he was 10 and arrived in the UK as a refugee in 2020. Mr Laidlaw said: 'The defendant was hearing voices, he'd become consumed by paranoia and delusional beliefs which included that people generally and members of his family in this country were both controlling him and plotting against him.'
Safi gave a false date of birth making him appear 23, but he is actually 28, the prosecution said. He entered the UK in a lorry in 2020 and was granted asylum in 2022, according to the Home Office.
Charges and Trial
Safi pleaded guilty to manslaughter, actual bodily harm relating to a 14-year-old boy, wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm regarding Mr Farrukh, and possession of an offensive weapon. However, he denies two counts of attempted murder for Mr Farrukh and the teenager. Mr Laidlaw argued: 'The fact that the defendant was no doubt in a psychotic state...does not mean he was incapable of forming an intention to kill.' The trial on the attempted murder charges is expected to conclude later this week.
