Uxbridge Manslaughter Admitted
Afghan Migrant Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in 'Frenzied' West London Attack
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Key Points
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Safi lived with Shahzad Farrukh as his lodger at the Midhurst Gardens address, indicating a close living arrangement at the time of the offence.
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Safi was found armed with a large knife in the annex of the property during the incident, suggesting the weapon was close at hand.
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Broadhurst was not known to Safi and was attacked as he happened to be walking past with his dog.
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Safi also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon as part of the proceedings.
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The opening day of Safi's trial was reported on July 13, with court coverage noting the proceedings at Southwark Crown Court.
An Afghan migrant has admitted to the "frenzied" killing of a dog walker in west London, pleading guilty to manslaughter on the opening day of his trial. Dawood Safi, 23, admitted the stabbing death of Wayne Broadhurst in Uxbridge on October 27, telling the court he was in a psychotic state at the time, according to Daily Mail.
Safi also admitted stabbing his landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, and a 14-year-old boy in the same attack on Midhurst Gardens. He still faces trial for the attempted murder of both survivors, Seaside Radio reported.
A Random, Senseless Attack on a Stranger
Wayne Broadhurst was not known to Safi at all. He was simply walking his dog past the property when Safi attacked him, according to GB News. The killing was described in court as "random, nonsensical and frenzied." Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw said those features pointed clearly to a man who was acutely unwell at the time.
Safi was found inside the annex of the property carrying a large knife. Farrukh, 45, was his landlord and had been living with Safi as his lodger at the same address. Safi also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon during the proceedings, Seaside Radio reported.
Four Doctors Agreed: Safi Was Psychotic
Four separate medical experts all reached the same conclusion. They found Safi suffered an "abnormality of mental functioning" during the attack, according to Head Topics. That legal term means his mental illness seriously affected his ability to understand what he was doing or to control his actions.
Because of those medical findings, prosecutors chose not to pursue a murder charge. Laidlaw told Southwark Crown Court the Crown accepted the manslaughter plea on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The attempted murder charges against Safi for attacking Farrukh and the boy remain live and will go to trial, Express reported.
Victim's Family Wanted a Murder Conviction
The outcome has not satisfied those closest to Wayne Broadhurst. Prosecutor Laidlaw acknowledged in court that the victim's family had wanted a murder conviction, according to Daily Mail. A guilty plea to manslaughter carries a lower sentence than murder, which in England and Wales carries a mandatory life term.
The case drew wide attention partly because of Safi's background as an Afghan asylum seeker who entered Britain in a lorry. Head Topics reported the psychotic episode was linked to his asylum case, though the court has not confirmed those details. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
Trial Continues on Attempted Murder Counts
Safi's guilty pleas on July 13 covered manslaughter, grievous bodily harm with intent against Farrukh, actual bodily harm against the 14-year-old, and possessing an offensive weapon. But the two most serious remaining charges — attempted murder of Farrukh and the boy — are still being contested, according to GB News.
The trial at Southwark Crown Court is expected to continue. If convicted of attempted murder, Safi faces a significant custodial sentence on top of any punishment for the manslaughter. The court has not yet set a date for the next stage of proceedings, Express reported.
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