Dawood Safi, a 23-year-old Afghan migrant, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of dog walker Wayne Broadhurst on the grounds of diminished responsibility, after a court heard he was in a “psychotic state” during a series of attacks in Uxbridge last October. Southwark Crown Court heard that Safi also assaulted his landlord and a 14-year-old boy on the same day, and he now faces a separate trial over two counts of attempted murder.
The attacks took place in Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge, on 27 October last year, when landlord Shahzad Farrukh, 45, a 14-year-old boy, and Mr Broadhurst were all assaulted. On the opening day of his trial, Safi entered a guilty plea to manslaughter over Mr Broadhurst’s death, with the plea accepted by prosecutors on the basis of diminished responsibility. He had previously admitted lesser charges of grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to Mr Farrukh, and actual bodily harm in relation to the teenager.
A random and frenzied attack
Prosecuting, Jonathan Laidlaw KC told the court that the decision not to pursue a murder charge was based on medical evidence, despite the wishes of Mr Broadhurst’s family, who had hoped to see Safi convicted of murder. Four separate psychiatric experts concluded that Safi had been experiencing “an abnormality of mental functioning” at the time of the attacks. “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,” Laidlaw told the court. He added that the experts regarded the “random, nonsensical and frenzied nature” of the killing as further evidence that Safi had been “acutely unwell” at the time.
How the attack unfolded
The court heard that Safi had been living as a lodger at Mr Farrukh’s property at the time of the attacks, and was found armed with a large knife in the annex of the property on 27 October. Mr Broadhurst, who had no prior connection to Safi, was attacked as he happened to be walking past with his dog. He died at the scene, having suffered multiple stab wounds, including to his neck, chest and side.
Earlier hearings were told that a neighbour intervened during the incident, swinging a walking stick at Safi and forcing him to back away, which allowed others nearby to assist the injured victims.
Trial to continue over attempted murder charges
Alongside his manslaughter plea, Safi also pleaded guilty to a single count of possessing an offensive weapon. However, he has denied two counts of attempted murder relating to Mr Farrukh and the 14-year-old boy, and will stand trial on those charges beginning Monday afternoon.
Background on Safi’s asylum claim
According to the Home Office, Safi entered the UK by lorry in 2020 before claiming asylum, which was granted in 2022.
