An Afghan teenager who murdered a man he wrongly believed was a member of the Taliban has been jailed for life after stalking his victim for months before launching a savage knife attack in central London.
Sulaiman Tajzai, 18, travelled more than 150 miles from Leeds to London before ambushing 26-year-old Farmanullah Sherzad outside his home in Westminster on March 27.
Tajzai had developed a personal grudge against Sherzad and falsely believed that he was a member of the Taliban, the Old Bailey heard. The court was told that the Taliban had previously kidnapped Tajzai’s father and were suspected of killing him.
There was also a separate dispute involving the wife of Tajzai’s cousin, with Tajzai believing Sherzad had stalked her with the intention of having sex with her. However, police had previously investigated allegations against Sherzad and ultimately took no further action against him.
On Friday, Judge Angela Rafferty KC sentenced Tajzai to detention at His Majesty’s pleasure — the equivalent of a life sentence for an offender treated by the court as being under 18 — with a minimum term of 25 years, less 171 days already spent in custody. Tajzai had pleaded guilty to murder and possession of a bladed article on September 11, after the jury had heard seven days of evidence.
‘Stalking him down like prey’
The killing was the culmination of months of planning and surveillance. The court heard that Tajzai had previously travelled to London to establish where Sherzad lived and worked and to learn his daily routine.
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Judge Rafferty told him: “You were effectively stalking him down like prey.” She said Tajzai’s grudge was based on a “false suggestion of misconduct” towards a woman connected to him.
“It is not said on your behalf, nor could it be, that you had any justifiable or excusable grievance against this man,” the judge added.
On March 27, Tajzai left his accommodation in Leeds carrying a bag containing gloves, a balaclava and different items of clothing which could be used to disguise his appearance. He then visited a shop and spent several minutes choosing a large knife before travelling by train to London.
CCTV tracked him as he made his way across the capital towards Sherzad’s home on the Peabody Estate near Abbey Orchard Street in Westminster. Tajzai waited outside for Sherzad, who had just finished work.
When Sherzad arrived home, Tajzai confronted him while wearing a balaclava and carrying the knife. Sherzad attempted to escape, dropping his belongings as he ran.
Describing Sherzad’s realisation of what was happening, Judge Rafferty said: “He must have seen the knife and the balaclava you were wearing and realised that death was close.”
Witnesses heard Sherzad repeatedly screaming for help as Tajzai pursued him. One member of the public shouted at Tajzai to leave Sherzad alone, but the attack continued. Sherzad eventually fell to the ground, where CCTV showed Tajzai repeatedly stabbing him, including in the back.
“Mr Sherzad’s last moments were spent in terror and anguish that can only be imagined,” Judge Rafferty said. She described what followed as an “exceptionally violent knife attack.”
Sherzad suffered at least 10 stab wounds as well as multiple deep slash wounds to his face, neck, chest, back and arms. Major blood vessels in his neck were severed, his heart and aorta were penetrated and both lungs were injured. Some of his wounds were defensive, indicating that he had attempted to fend off his attacker.
The judge concluded: “I sentence you on the basis that this was a planned and premeditated killing over the course of some months and that your intention was to kill your victim.”
Taliban belief and family dispute
The background to the killing involved allegations surrounding Tajzai’s cousin and his wife.
The court heard that the couple had reported Sherzad to police in Leeds in September 2025. The following month officers went to the couple’s home and found Sherzad sitting on the floor with his wrists tied with fabric and without his shoes.
He was arrested on suspicion of stalking and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence. Sherzad, however, told police that he was in a relationship with the woman and claimed she had invited him to Leeds through Snapchat.
Police subsequently informed the family that no further action would be taken against Sherzad. Tajzai nevertheless continued to harbour a grudge against him.
The court also heard that Tajzai wrongly believed Sherzad was connected to the Taliban.
That belief had particular significance because Tajzai came from Afghanistan and his father had previously been kidnapped by the Taliban, who were suspected of killing him. However, the judge made clear that Tajzai’s actions were driven by a personal grudge.
Tajzai had been assessed as suffering from PTSD arising from his early experiences in Afghanistan, but Judge Rafferty said this provided no defence and had no connection to the killing. She told him: “You killed Mr Sherzad because of a personal grudge and not because of any mental illness.”
‘The loss carries on every day’
Sherzad’s brother, Sangein Miakhel, described him as a friendly, respectful and hardworking young man who was deeply loved by his family.
The judge said his death had caused “profound sadness, anxiety and loneliness,” with Sherzad’s parents requiring hospital treatment because of the trauma. “The loss carries on every day,” she said.
Sherzad’s lifelong friend Nawaz Doost, who had known him since childhood in Afghanistan, said he remained haunted by the aftermath of the murder and Sherzad’s screams.
After the killing, Tajzai fled, changed his clothes and attempted to dispose of evidence before returning to Leeds. The judge said the months of planning, premeditation and stalking significantly aggravated the murder.
“He was ambushed by you and you intended to kill him,” she said. She described the attack as “savage” and noted that it had taken place on a public street, causing continuing emotional trauma to witnesses.
The court accepted there was uncertainty about Tajzai’s true age and sentenced him on the basis that he may have been 17 at the time of the murder. Tajzai had no previous convictions.
Judge Rafferty said the aggravating factors were so serious that a minimum term of 27 years would have been justified before taking account of his lack of convictions, background and other reports. She ultimately imposed a minimum term of 25 years, minus 171 days already spent in custody.
Explaining the gravity of the sentence directly to Tajzai, Judge Rafferty said: “You go to prison for life.” She added: “You may never be released.”
