Afghan safi dawood remanded at Old Bailey for Uxbridge murder

Afghan refugee Safi Dawood, 22, remand in Custody at Old Bailey over Uxbridge stabbing: charged with murdering Wayne Broadhurst after 2020 lorry entry and 2022 asylum grant sparks policy scrutiny.

An Afghan refugee accused of killing a dog walker in a frenzied knife attack in west London has appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Safi Dawood, 22, is alleged to have fatally stabbed 49-year-old Wayne Broadhurst 14 times as he walked his dog in Uxbridge on the morning of Monday 27 October. Prosecutors say Mr Broadhurst, a complete stranger to Dawood, was attacked without warning during what has been described as a violent and sustained rampage that left two other victims injured.

At a brief preliminary hearing before Judge Mark Lucraft KC, Dawood appeared by video link from Wandsworth Prison to confirm his name and date of birth. The court heard he faces charges of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and possession of an offensive weapon. He was remanded in custody pending a plea hearing fixed for 26 January, with a three-week trial expected to begin on 20 July next year.

Opening the prosecution outline, Deanna Heer KC told the court that Dawood, an Afghan refugee granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom until 2027, had been due to vacate his rented accommodation in Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge, within three days of the attack.

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His landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, 45, had gone to the property that morning to speak with him but was allegedly confronted by Dawood wielding a large knife. Mr Farrukh fled the address, seeking help from neighbours as the defendant pursued him into the street.

One resident reportedly tried to intervene, swinging a walking stick to drive the attacker back, but Dawood is said to have continued his advance, injuring a 14-year-old boy nearby before turning his attention to Mr Broadhurst. The court heard that the dog walker was stabbed repeatedly after falling to the ground, sustaining multiple wounds to his neck, chest and side. Despite the efforts of paramedics and police officers, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Farrukh suffered life-changing injuries and remains in hospital following emergency surgery. The teenage boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, received injuries to his hands and was treated and discharged later that day. Dawood was arrested close to the scene and later charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a knife.

The court was told that the Crown intends to rely on forensic and witness evidence, including accounts from residents who saw the incident unfold. No application for bail was made and Dawood spoke only to confirm his personal details during the ten-minute hearing.

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Judge Lucraft remanded the defendant into custody and directed that pre-trial issues be addressed at the January hearing. The trial, estimated to last up to three weeks, will be heard before a High Court judge at the Old Bailey.