An 18-year-old Afghan migrant accused of killing a man in central London has appeared in court, where judges heard claims that he may have acted while struggling with serious trauma linked to his experiences as a refugee.
The case relates to the death of 26-year-old Farmanullah Sherzad, who was found with several knife wounds in Abbey Orchard Street, Westminster, on March 27 this year. Despite emergency efforts, he later died in hospital.
The defendant, Sulaiman Tajzai, appeared before the Old Bailey through a video link from Belmarsh Prison. Dressed in a white T-shirt, he spoke only to confirm his identity and was assisted by a Pashto interpreter during the hearing.
Tajzai denies the charge of murder and also denies possessing a knife in a public place.
During the hearing, his defence lawyer told the court that a psychiatric assessment had been carried out to determine whether Tajzai is fit to take part in legal proceedings. The defence argues that he is a traumatised refugee and that his mental condition should be considered as part of the case.
Judge Mark Dennis KC ordered that further evidence be provided before the next hearing. This includes any psychiatric or psychological reports the defence intends to rely on, as well as the full post-mortem report and other evidence being used by prosecutors.
The judge said all of these documents must be submitted by July 21 so that both sides can properly prepare for the next stage of the case. A further hearing has been scheduled for July 24 to review the evidence and decide how the case should proceed.
The court also discussed the planned trial date of September 2. If that date remains unchanged, all trial documents must be exchanged by mid-August.
There was an unusual moment during the hearing when one of the desks inside the courtroom suddenly collapsed with a loud crash. The unexpected noise startled those present, and court staff quickly tried to put the furniture back together.
The judge joked about the incident, saying the courtroom appeared to be “falling to pieces” as he brought the hearing to a close.
Tajzai, who lives in Beeston, Leeds, remains in custody and is expected to face trial in September. The case continues, and the court has not yet reached any conclusion regarding his guilt or innocence.
