Dawood Safi, 28, an Afghan migrant who arrived in the UK in 2020, is set to be detained indefinitely at Broadmoor Hospital after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Wayne Broadhurst, 49, in Uxbridge, west London, on October 27 of the previous year. Safi also inflicted life-changing injuries on his landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, 45, and a 14-year-old boy during a knife rampage.
Prosecutors accepted Safi's guilty plea to the manslaughter of Mr. Broadhurst on the grounds of diminished responsibility, though he denied murder. The court heard that Safi was experiencing a mental health episode and had lost contact with reality when he carried out the "entirely unprovoked, ferocious and senseless killing." He had sought medical attention two days before the attack, complaining of hearing voices, but was turned away from a GP and hospital.
Safi also stood trial for attempting to murder Mr. Farrukh and the teenage boy. He was convicted by a jury of attempting to murder Mr. Farrukh. The jury was deadlocked on the charge of attempted murder of the boy, while Safi had previously admitted to assault occasioning actual bodily harm to the 14-year-old.
Police bodycam footage captured Safi's arrest in the street, with his hands visibly covered in blood. He refused to drop his weapon despite repeated commands from officers and was Tasered before being handcuffed.
Mr. Broadhurst's family described him as a "kind, caring and loving man" and a devoted fan of Liverpool Football Club. "Wayne's passion for Liverpool Football Club was well known," the family said in a statement. "He lived and breathed football, and supporting Liverpool brought him immense joy. The loss of Wayne has left an enormous void in our lives that can never be filled."
Forensic psychiatrists assessed Safi, concluding that his immigration status and relative social isolation were risk factors in his psychosis. Safi was granted asylum in the UK in 2022 with leave to remain until 2027 and was working as a taxi driver.
Members of the public, including the Rogers family, were commended for their bravery in intervening to help Mr. Farrukh and attempting to assist Mr. Broadhurst. One neighbor, wielding a walking stick, was among those who rushed to Mr. Farrukh's aid. Another performed CPR on Mr. Broadhurst until emergency services arrived.
The judge is scheduled to sentence Safi on October 5, after psychiatric reports are prepared. She will determine whether Safi will be detained under the Mental Health Act with a restriction order, which would require the approval of the Justice Secretary for his release.