5th October, 2026 | News

Afghan Refugee Given Indefinite Hospital Order After Fatal Uxbridge Knife Attack

An Afghan refugee who fatally attacked a man walking his dog in a random and unprovoked incident in Uxbridge has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order for mental health treatment.

Dawood Safi, 28, was found to have been in a psychotic state when he attacked his landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, before killing 49-year-old Wayne Broadhurst in Uxbridge on 27 October 2025.

At Southwark Crown Court on Monday, Mrs Justice Cutts ordered Safi to remain indefinitely in a secure hospital after the court heard evidence about his deteriorating mental health and psychosis before the attacks.

Judge Recommends Safi Be Deported

The judge also recommended that Safi be deported from the UK, stating that his continued presence in the country was “to its detriment”.

However, she stressed that the final decision rests with the Home Secretary.

Safi arrived in the UK in 2020 and was later granted asylum in 2022. The court heard that he had claimed to be 17 when he entered the country.

Wayne Broadhurst Killed in Random Attack

Broadhurst, who worked as a street sweeper for Ealing Council, had been walking his dog, Harry, when he encountered Safi on the street.

The court heard that Safi attacked Broadhurst without an apparent motive, resulting in his death.

Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw KC said Broadhurst had the “terrible misfortune” of walking past the property at the time of the incident.

The judge described Broadhurst as a “gentle and quiet man” and said he was a hard-working and decent man who was deeply loved by his family.

Safi Admitted Manslaughter

Safi pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility after prosecutors accepted evidence concerning his mental health.

His family had wanted him to face a murder conviction, but prosecutors accepted the lesser charge after reviewing evidence about his psychotic state.

Safi was also convicted of attempting to murder his landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, and admitted causing actual bodily harm to a 14-year-old boy and possessing an offensive weapon.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on a separate attempted murder charge relating to the teenager.

Family Describes Devastating Impact

The court heard about the lasting impact of Broadhurst’s death on his family.

His partner, Ann Newman, said she had been left facing a daily struggle with grief and loss, while her sister, Laura Ireland-Cochrane, said the family had found it difficult to accept the manslaughter conviction rather than a murder conviction.

The family also expressed concern about the possibility that Safi could eventually be released if his mental health improves.