Sulaiman Tajzai, an 18-year-old Afghan refugee from Leeds, has pleaded guilty to the murder of 26-year-old Farmanullah Sherzad, whom his family had accused of stalking. The attack took place in Westminster, central London, after Tajzai travelled more than 150 miles to carry out what prosecutors described as a “brutal and senseless act of violence”.
Tajzai bought a knife from a corner shop in Leeds on March 27 and travelled by train to the victim’s address later that day. The Old Bailey heard that Mr Sherzad had left work at 10pm and cycled home, where Tajzai was waiting for him. In the weeks before the attack, Tajzai had already travelled to London to scope out Mr Sherzad’s address and workplace.
Attack captured on CCTV
CCTV footage showed a scuffle, with Mr Sherzad trying to run away while “screaming for his life”, but Tajzai followed and attacked him, according to prosecutor Lisa Wilding KC. Police found Mr Sherzad unconscious in Abbey Orchard Street at around 10.15pm, and he died at the scene about 20 minutes later.
Tajzai fled the scene, dropping a pair of black gloves near St James’ Park. He missed a train back to Leeds from King’s Cross station and instead boarded another one just after 6am the following day. He was arrested at his cousin’s house in Leeds on March 29, where police seized several items, including a pair of blood-stained trainers.
Background of alleged stalking
The court was told that alleged animosity against Mr Sherzad dated back to the autumn of 2025. A “pre-existing connection” between the defendant’s cousin’s wife and Mr Sherzad had “turned sour”, according to the prosecutor. The cousin and his wife had reported Mr Sherzad to police in September last year, showing an officer an image of the victim and text messages in Arabic. However, when spoken to privately, the wife deleted the texts, refused to sign a statement, and left the police station.
Police officers went to the couple’s Leeds home on October 3 last year and found Mr Sherzad sitting on the floor with his wrists tied together with fabric and no shoes on. He was arrested on suspicion of stalking and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence. Mr Sherzad claimed he was in a relationship with the wife, saying he had come to Leeds to visit after she had invited him via Snapchat. Following his release, the defendant’s cousin and his wife contacted police multiple times, but were later told there would be “no further action” against Mr Sherzad.
Guilty plea and sentencing
Tajzai, of Wesley Road, Leeds, pleaded guilty to murder on Friday and also admitted a charge of possession of a bladed article. He is due to be sentenced on Friday, September 18. In a statement issued after the guilty plea, Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, who led the investigation, said: “This is a devastating case in which a young man lost his life after being subjected to a brutal and senseless act of violence. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one in such circumstances.”
