🔴 SAFI DAWOOD: ALLEGED KILLER – WAS HE TRULY FREED EARLY?

Safi Dawood, a 22-year-old Afghan national with leave to remain in the UK until 2027, stands accused of a brutal murder that has cast a spotlight on the nation’s criminal justice system.

Reporting live from the Old Bailey for @UKCourtsLive on November 03, 2025, I observed via videolink from Wandsworth Prison as Dawood faced charges of murder for the death of Wayne Broadhurst, a 49-year-old council worker, on October 27, 2025, in Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge.

Broadhurst was fatally stabbed 14 times while walking his dog, marking the end of an alleged violent spree that also saw Dawood charged with two counts of attempted murder against a 14-year-old boy and his landlord Shahzad Farrukh. A plea hearing is set for January 12, 2026, with a provisional trial date of July 20, 2026, promising a meticulous judicial review.

Central to this case is the question of Dawood’s prior incarceration. @UKCourtsLive confirmed during the hearing that he had previous convictions for knife offences, leading to his imprisonment before his release in September 2024. This release aligned with the government’s early release scheme, launched by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in September 2024 to address prison overcrowding.

Official Ministry of Justice figures indicate that 38,042 prisoners, including 3,644 foreign nationals, were freed under this initiative between September 2024 and June 2025, with eligible inmates serving just 40% of their sentences rather than the customary 50%. Dawood’s early release, matching this timeline, has fuelled intense scrutiny of the policy’s execution.

The hearing revealed that Dawood’s alleged rampage began when Farrukh found him armed with a large knife in his Uxbridge accommodation, days before he was due to leave. Farrukh sustained life-changing injuries requiring surgery, while the 14-year-old victim suffered hand wounds but was discharged the same day.

The fatal encounter with Broadhurst occurred as he passed by, with prosecutors alleging Dawood attacked without provocation, delivering multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest, and side. Despite medical efforts, Broadhurst was pronounced dead at the scene, prompting calls for parliamentary debate.

Details of Dawood’s prior legal entanglements remain partially veiled. @UKCourtsLive noted his history of knife-related convictions, though specific arrest dates or sentence lengths were not disclosed, possibly due to ongoing proceedings or a reported super injunction.

His status as an Afghan refugee with prior legal issues adds complexity, with the early release scheme’s broad application seeing 11,041 recalls for breached conditions between April and June 2025, highlighting its challenges.

MP Rupert Lowe has submitted a parliamentary motion demanding attention to Broadhurst’s death, joined by colleagues like J McMurdock, reflecting a political undercurrent.

The motion suggests Dawood’s release under the scheme enabled the subsequent violence, though no official statement directly ties it to Mahmood’s personal oversight. The Home Office faces broader scrutiny over immigration and security, with Mahmood acknowledging departmental pressures in a recent statement.

Dawood remains remanded in custody, ensuring a thorough judicial process ahead. The court has allocated a three-week trial window, allowing time for evidence compilation, including witness accounts of neighbours intervening with a walking stick during the attack.

The case intersects with national debates on prison capacity and policy efficacy, with @UKCourtsLive noting disputed claims of migrant crime rates that await further judicial clarification.

As the legal proceedings progress, the focus remains on the evidence: Dawood’s prior convictions, his early release, and the tragic events of October 27. The trial will determine the charges’ veracity, while broader questions about the early release scheme’s impact await further scrutiny from the courts and Parliament.