A man has admitted killing a dog walker in what prosecutors described as a “frenzy of violence” in west London.
Dawood Safi, 28, fatally stabbed 49-year-old Wayne Broadhurst on 27 October 2025.
On the opening day of his trial at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, Safi pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Broadhurst on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to his psychotic state – which has been accepted by the prosecution.
He remains on trial for the attempted murder of his 45-year-old landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, and a 14-year-old boy in Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge.
For the prosecution, Jonathan Laidlaw KC told the court four mental health experts had concluded Safi suffered a “complete mental collapse” during the incident.
Psychiatrists described him as neurotic, with a tendency to ruminate and worry, and said he had developed a “rigid sense of right and wrong”.
Laidlaw said: “He was in a psychotic state and had lost contact with reality. He was not able to distinguish what was real and what was not. He was hearing voices and had delusional beliefs.”
At a previous hearing, Safi also admitted lesser charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm relating to Farrukh and actual bodily harm in relation to the boy.
The court heard how a witness describing Safi as appearing “possessed”, before he attacked and killed Broadhurst – a man he had never met.
Broadhurst died after suffering multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest and side.
The prosecution acknowledged that Broadhurst’s family had wanted Safi to be found guilty of murder.
Safi entered the UK in a lorry in 2020 and was granted asylum in 2022, the Home Office previously confirmed.
After the jury was sworn in, the prosecution outlined more of Safi’s background to the court.
“He spoke about his father having been killed by the Taliban; and of being threatened and harassed by the Taliban”.
“None of that was true,” said Laidlaw.
Arriving in the country, Safi gave a false date of birth which would make him 23 now, but he is in fact 28, the prosecution said.
The trial continues.
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