Hazrat Wali: Teenage refugee who fled Afghanistan died of stab wound in Twickenham

A 17-year-old has been found guilty of manslaughter after stabbing Hazrat Wali to death at a Twickenham playing field.

The verdict was delivered at the Old Bailey on Tuesday. The killer, who was aged 16 at the time of the offence and cannot be named for legal reasons, will be sentenced at the same court on March 10.

In early 2015, when Hazrat was just 13, he left Afghanistan for his own safety and to start a new life. He lived for a short time in Austria before moving permanently to the UK and settled in London in 2017.

Police said Hazrat was described by all those across all care settings as a shy friendly, polite and respectful to everyone he met.

At around 4.30pm on October 12, 2021, 18-year-old Hazrat and another teenager were sat in Craneford Way Playing Fields when he was approached by six teenagers he did not know.

The 17-year old was one of the group and became involved in an argument with Hazrat. They started to push against each other.

The court heard that Hazrat used his left arm to push the defendant away, but that the defendant pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the right side of his chest.

The wound was deep and caused internal injuries that led to fatal blood loss.

Police said Hazrat grabbed a tree branch in an attempt to defend himself - but moments later he collapsed to the floor. The defendant fled.

Although officers and the London Ambulance Service were called to the scene, they could not save Hazrat’s life.

Detective Inspector Matt Denby said: “Tragically, another young life has been cut short by people who carry knives.

“This was a completely senseless killing. Incidents such as this highlight why tackling knife crime is a priority for the Met, and why we are working tirelessly alongside our partners to bring those who carry knives on our streets to justice.

“It is my sincere hope that Hazrat’s loved ones find a measure of comfort in this conviction. My thoughts are with them and the community who have supported the family throughout.”