A teenage asylum seeker has been jailed for life after fatally stabbing a young man in cold blood on the streets of central London.
asserted
seeker → jail → London
Sulaiman Tajzai,18, travelled more than 150 miles from Leeds and killed 26-year-old Farmanullah Sherzad in Westminster on March 27 this year, lying in wait for his victim to leave work.
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victim → travel → work
On Friday, September 18, a judge at the Old Bailey jailed Tajzai for life to serve a minimum of 25 years after he pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a bladed article.
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he → jail → article
He subjected his victim to an “exceptionally violent” and “savage” attack in public, stabbing him at least 10 times, judge Angela Rafferty KC said.
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KC → subject → him
Judge Rafferty told him: “You were effectively stalking him down like prey.
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You → tell → prey
You had a grudge against him based on a false suggestion of misconduct towards a female you are connected with.
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you → have → female
“It is not said on your behalf, nor could it be, that you had any justifiable or excusable grievance against this man.”
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you → say → man
Tajzai had developed a “personal grudge” towards Mr Sherzad believing – falsely – that he was in the Taliban and had stalked his cousin’s wife with the intention of having sex with her.
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he → develop → her
The court was told the Taliban had previously kidnapped the defendant’s father and was suspected of killing him.
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Taliban → tell → him
However, in victim impact statements, Mr Sherzad’s loved ones described him as a “friendly, polite, respectful person who was always well mannered and tolerant”.
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who → love → person
The court heard how he loved cricket, was a “very good fast bowler” and was also hard-working, often working six or seven days a week.
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he → hear → days
Prosecutor Lisa Wilding KC said Tajzai had claimed to be aged 14 when he entered the UK in August 2022, going on to claim asylum the following year.
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he → say → asylum
At around 10.15pm on March 27, police were called after Farmanullah Sherzad was found with stab wounds by a member of the public.
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Sherzad → call → public
Despite the efforts of medical staff, the 26-year-old died around 20 minutes later.
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old → die → staff
Officers established through CCTV enquiries that Sulaiman Tajzai had purchased a knife from a corner shop in Leeds before travelling to London by train on the same day.
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Tajzai → establish → day
Further footage captured Tajzai waiting outside Farmanullah’s address when he arrived home from work shortly before 10.15pm.
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he → capture → 10.15pm
Upon seeing Tajzai, Farmanullah tried to flee but Tajzai chased him onto Abbey Orchard Street, where he fatally stabbed him.
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he → see → him
In a statement, the victim’s family said: “We as a family are utterly devastated and heartbroken by the sudden and horrific murder of Farmanullah.
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We → say → Farmanullah
His life was taken from him in the most cruel and senseless circumstances, leaving a void that can never be filled.
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that → take → void
He was someone who would not hurt a fly.
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who → hurt → fly
He lived his life peacefully, treated others with respect and sought only to live in harmony with those around him.
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He → live → him
It is almost impossible for us to comprehend that someone so harmless and kind has been taken from us in such a violent and tragic way.
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someone → comprehend → way
“We are deeply shocked and angered by the circumstances surrounding his death.
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We → shock → death
If, as we understand, this was a calculated, heinous and premeditated act, then the enormity of what has happened cannot be overstated.
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what → understand → ?
A human life has been deliberately taken, and a family has been left to live with unimaginable grief and loss.
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family → take → grief
“No family should ever have to endure the pain that we are experiencing.
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we → have → that
No innocent life should be taken in such circumstances.
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life → take → circumstances
“We sincerely hope that the authorities and the justice system will do everything within their power to ensure that those who pose a danger to others are appropriately dealt with, rehabilitated where possible, and prevented from causing further devastation to other innocent families.
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who → hope → families
“Farmanullah deserved to live his life.
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Farmanullah → deserve → life
He deserved to grow old surrounded by his family and loved ones.
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He → deserve → family
Instead, we are left mourning a life that was cruelly and prematurely taken from us.
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that → leave → us
“We will never forget him, and we will never stop grieving for him.”
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we → forget → him
After the attack, Tajzai fled the scene, dropping a pair of black gloves near St James' Park.
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Tajzai → flee → Park
Following forensic examination, Farmanullah's blood was found on the gloves, while DNA recovered from inside them was linked to Tajzai.
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DNA → follow → Tajzai
CCTV footage also revealed that Tajzai had travelled to London in the weeks before the attack to scope out Farmanullah's home address and where he worked.
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he → reveal → address
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, who led the investigation, said: "Our thoughts remain with Farmanullah's family and loved ones, who continue to face the unimaginable consequences of his death.
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who → lead → death
While nothing can ever undo their pain and suffering, we hope this outcome provides them with some measure of justice.
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outcome → undo → justice
“My team worked meticulously to piece together crucial CCTV, and forensic evidence to build a compelling case, and today's sentence reflects the seriousness of this violent and senseless attack, which resulted in the tragic loss of a young man's life.
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which → work → life
“The Met will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the most violent offenders are apprehended and put before the courts.”
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offenders → continue → courts
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