UBER DRIVER FOUND GUILTY OF ATTEMPTING MURDER OF LANDLORD

Dawood Safi has been found guilty of attempting to murder his landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, following a knife attack in Uxbridge, west London, in October. Safi, an Uber driver, stabbed Farrukh in the neck during the incident but Farrukh managed to escape. Safi had previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of dog walker Wayne Broadhurst, aged 49, on the grounds of diminished responsibility. A jury at Southwark Crown Court also found Safi guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent against Farrukh and is continuing to deliberate on an attempted murder charge relating to a 14-year-old boy who was attacked the same day.

The attack occurred whilst Safi was experiencing a psychotic episode, according to testimony at trial. Four mental health experts concluded that Safi had suffered a "complete mental collapse" at the time of the rampage, during which he heard voices and held delusional beliefs that people including his landlord were controlling and plotting against him. The prosecution stated that Safi believed Farrukh, a Thames Valley Police contractor, might be able to help him. Safi is an Afghan refugee who arrived in the UK by lorry in 2020 and was granted asylum in 2022.

The verdict follows the opening day of trial at Southwark Crown Court this week. Safi pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to grievous bodily harm with intent against Farrukh on the opening day. The jury's deliberations on the attempted murder charge relating to the teenager remain ongoing.