An 18-year-old Afghan asylum seeker has been sentenced to life imprisonment after admitting to the fatal stabbing of a man in London. Sulaiman Tajzai, who lives in Leeds, was convicted of murdering 26-year-old shop worker Farmanullah Sherzad in Westminster. The court heard that Tajzai traveled more than 150 miles to carry out the attack, which involved stabbing the victim at least 10 times.

At the Old Bailey, Judge Angela Rafferty described the assault as a deliberate ambush, noting that Tajzai had effectively stalked Sherzad before the attack. The judge highlighted that Tajzai’s actions were driven by a grudge based on unfounded allegations of misconduct involving a woman connected to him. Additionally, Tajzai wrongly believed Sherzad was associated with the Taliban.

Tajzai, who arrived in the United Kingdom in 2022 claiming to be 14 years old, will serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole.

During the trial, family and friends of Sherzad painted a contrasting picture of the victim, describing him as a friendly and hardworking individual with a passion for cricket. The court was told that the accusations motivating the attack were false and that the killing was unprovoked.

The case underscores the serious consequences of misinformation and misplaced grievances, as well as concerns about the assessment of age claims made by asylum seekers.