An 18-year-old Afghan migrant, who arrived in the UK via a small boat, is accused of traveling nearly 200 miles to commit a fatal stabbing near Westminster Abbey, the Old Bailey heard. Suliaman Tajzai allegedly traveled from Leeds to London to murder 26-year-old Farmanullah Sherzad on March 27.
Prosecutors stated that Tajzai's actions were not coincidental or spontaneous. He is accused of making three previous trips to London to identify Mr. Sherzad's residence and workplace and purchased the knife used in the attack on the morning of the murder. Tajzai allegedly armed himself with the knife, waited for Mr. Sherzad outside his home, and then engaged in a prolonged attack that resulted in immediate death.
When police arrived at the scene on Abbey Orchard Street, Mr. Sherzad was found with a large kitchen knife in his chest. Tajzai, who is from Beeston in Leeds, has denied murder and possession of a knife in a public place.
The court heard that five months prior to the alleged murder, Tajzai and his cousin, Zakirullah Tarakhail, had tied up Mr. Sherzad. This occurred after it was discovered that Mr. Sherzad had been secretly messaging Mr. Tarakhail's wife, Kabuli. In September 2025, Mr. Tarakhail filed a police report accusing Mr. Sherzad of stalking and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offense.
Authorities responded to the Tarakhail residence on October 3, where they found Mr. Sherzad with his wrists bound. He was subsequently arrested for stalking Mrs. Tarakhail. During the police interaction, Mr. Sherzad claimed he was romantically involved with Kabuli Tarakhil and stated he was the victim in the situation. Police later informed the Tarakhails that the case against Mr. Sherzad was being dropped, but the prosecutor suggested that Mrs. Tarakhail, and possibly her husband, did not consider the matter closed.
Tajzai reportedly arrived in Britain over four years ago from France, crossing the English Channel on an inflatable boat. In his asylum interview, he stated he was 14 years old. The Home Office assigned him a birth date in 2023 after he claimed not to know his birthday. According to the prosecution, Tajzai entered the UK illegally on August 1, 2022, and claimed asylum the following day. He was granted temporary leave to remain until January 2029 on January 17, 2024.
The trial is ongoing.