Dawood Safi, a 28-year-old Afghan migrant who entered Britain hidden in a lorry, has admitted the "frenzied" killing of dog walker Wayne Broadhurst and stabbing his landlord and a teenage boy while in a "psychotic state," a court heard.
Safi was charged with murdering Mr Broadhurst, 45, and the attempted murder of his landlord Shahzad Farrukh, 45, and a 14-year-old boy in Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge, on October 27 2025. On Monday at Southwark Crown Court, Safi pleaded guilty to manslaughter of Mr Broadhurst via "diminished responsibility" because of his psychotic state.
Details of the Attacks
At a previous hearing, Safi also admitted lesser charges of grievous bodily harm with intent relating to Mr Farrukh and actual bodily harm in relation to the boy. Safi, who lived with Mr Farrukh as his lodger, was found armed with a large knife in the annex of the property on October 27. Mr Broadhurst, who was not known to Safi, was attacked as he happened to be walking past with his dog. He died at the scene after suffering multiple stab wounds to his neck, chest, and side.
Medical Evidence and Prosecution Decision
Jonathan Laidlaw KC, prosecuting, said that in light of reports from four separate medical experts who said Safi was experiencing "an abnormality of mental functioning" at the time of the attacks, they will not pursue the murder charge. "He was in a psychotic state, in other words he had lost contact with reality and he was unable to distinguish what was real and what was not," said Mr Laidlaw. He added that the experts found that the "random, nonsensical and frenzied nature" of the killing supported Safi being "acutely unwell."
Mr Laidlaw acknowledged to the court that Mr Broadhurst's family wanted to see Safi found guilty of murder.
Trial and Background
Safi will still stand trial for the attempted murder of Mr Farrukh and the 14-year-old, while his manslaughter pleas were "accepted" by the prosecution. Safi also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an offensive weapon. The trial for the two counts of attempted murder was scheduled to open on Monday afternoon.
Safi entered the UK in a lorry in 2020 before claiming asylum, which was granted in 2022, the Home Office previously confirmed. After arriving in the country, Safi gave a false date of birth which would make him 23 now, but he is in fact 28, the prosecution said. The trial continues.
