Sulaiman Tajzai, 18, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday to the murder of 26-year-old Farmanullah Sherzad, the Metropolitan Police confirmed. CCTV footage shows Tajzai purchasing a knife in Leeds on March 27 before traveling to Westminster, London, to kill Mr. Sherzad.
Jurors heard that Tajzai attacked and repeatedly stabbed Mr. Sherzad in a frenzied assault on Abbey Orchard Street shortly before 10:15 p.m. on March 27. The two were captured on CCTV as Tajzai chased his victim through the streets. Mr. Sherzad, who had been the subject of multiple stalking complaints by Tajzai's family, suffered several stab wounds and died 20 minutes later.
Tajzai's movements were tracked by CCTV across London, showing him arriving at King's Cross Station and proceeding to Mr. Sherzad's home. The victim had just finished work at 10 p.m. and was cycling home when his killer, who had arrived 15 minutes earlier, was waiting. Security camera footage showed a scuffle near Mr. Sherzad's house, with the victim heard screaming for his life as Tajzai attacked him, according to Lisa Wilding KC.
After the attack, Tajzai fled the scene and discarded a pair of black gloves near St. James's Park. Forensic investigators found Mr. Sherzad's blood on the gloves, with DNA linking them to Tajzai.
Tajzai attempted to catch a train back to Leeds from King's Cross station but missed it, departing on a later service just after 6 a.m. the following day. He was arrested on March 29 at his cousin's house in Leeds, where police seized blood-stained trainers among other items belonging to him.
The dispute that preceded the murder began in the autumn of 2025, when a relationship between Tajzai's cousin's wife and Mr. Sherzad reportedly soured. Tajzai's cousin and his wife had previously reported Mr. Sherzad to the police in Leeds in September 2025, showing an officer an image of the victim and text messages. However, the wife later deleted the messages and refused to provide a statement. Police attended the couple's Leeds home on October 3, 2025, and found Mr. Sherzad with his wrists tied and without shoes. He was arrested on suspicion of stalking and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offense. Mr. Sherzad claimed he was in a relationship with the wife and had come to Leeds after she invited him on Snapchat.
Following Mr. Sherzad's release, his cousin and his wife contacted the police multiple times, but were eventually informed that no further action would be taken against Mr. Sherzad.
CCTV footage revealed that Tajzai had traveled to London in the weeks prior to the attack to survey Mr. Sherzad's home and workplace, according to the police. Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley stated that this was a "devastating case in which a young man lost his life after being subjected to a brutal and senseless act of violence." Tajzai also pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and is scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on September 18.