18-year-old Afghan refugee pleads guilty to murdering man in London; accused of stalking cousin's wife

An 18-year-old Afghan refugee has pleaded guilty to murdering a 26-year-old man in London after travelling from Leeds with a knife he had bought earlier that day.Sulaiman Tajzai admitted killing Farmanullah Sherzad at the Old Bailey on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article and is due to be sentenced on September 18, The Independent reported.Tajzai bought the knife near his home in Leeds on March 27 before travelling more than 150 miles to Westminster, where Sherzad lived.Sherzad had been involved in a dispute with Tajzai's cousin and his wife. The couple had previously made complaints to police about him, and he was arrested in October 2025 after officers found him at their Leeds home with his wrists tied.Sherzad told police he was in a relationship with the woman and had travelled to Leeds after she invited him through Snapchat. He was later released, and the couple made further contact with police before being told there would be “no further action” against him.On the night of March 27, Tajzai was waiting near Sherzad's home when Sherzad returned from work at about 10pm. CCTV showed a confrontation outside the property before Tajzai attacked him.Prosecutor Lisa Wilding KC told the court that Sherzad ran “screaming for his life” as Tajzai repeatedly stabbed him.Police were called to Abbey Orchard Street shortly before 10.15pm. Sherzad died at the scene from multiple stab wounds.Tajzai fled and headed towards King's Cross in an attempt to catch a train back to Leeds. He missed his planned service and eventually boarded another train shortly after 6am the next day.He was arrested at his cousin's home in Leeds on March 29. Police searching the property recovered several items belonging to him, including a pair of blood-stained trainers.Investigators also found CCTV evidence showing Tajzai had travelled to London in the weeks before the killing and visited areas around Sherzad's home and workplace.Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, who led the investigation, described the killing as a “brutal and senseless act of violence”.“No family should have to endure the pain of losing a loved one in such circumstances,” Jolley said.Tajzai will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on September 18.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.