Bardia Shojaeifard sentenced for murder of Alfie Lewis

Bardia Shojaeifard was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years at Leeds Crown Court today.

It came after a jury returned a unanimous verdict of murder at the conclusion of his trial at the same court on May 3.

During the trial, Shojaeifard could not be named or identified, due to automatic anonymity by law in relation to his age, but this was challenged and The Honourable Mr Justice Cotter lifted the reporting restriction today.

Bardia Shojaeifard (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

He said doing so would help in the “vitally important debate about the scourge of knife crime, among young people in particular”.

Shojaeifard, who was 14 at the time of the killing, stabbed and fatally wounded 15-year-old Alfie last year in Horsforth on the way home from school.

He was described in court as an “outwardly normal” 15-year-old boy with a “worrying interest in knives".

Addressing the defendant directly as she read her victim impact statement in court, Alfie’s mother Heather Lane said: “No sentence will ever be enough for what you have done. I will never, ever forgive you.”

Ms Lane sobbed as she said: “Alfie was my heart and when he was stabbed in the heart it killed me too.”

Alfie Lewis (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

She described Alfie as her “big-hearted boy” who was known for “sorting out everyone’s problems and being the peacekeeper”.

“We laughed, danced and smiled, we loved each other for 15 years and I thought we would for the rest of my life.”

Quiet area in memory of Alfie Lewis at St Margaret’s Church last November (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

The attack happened at the junction of Church Road and Church Lane "in full view" of pupils leaving a primary school in the area, shortly before 3pm on November 7, 2023.

Alfie was stabbed twice - once in the chest and once in the leg - with the chest wound penetrating his heart and causing catastrophic bleeding.

He was pronounced dead at hospital a short time later.

A forensic officer at the scene in Horsforth last November (Image: PA)

Alfie was on his way to meet friends from Horsforth School, where he had previously been a student.

Eyewitnesses, including children, school staff, and passing members of the public, gave evidence that they had seen Shojaeifard approach Alfie and attack him without provocation.

All witnesses were “consistent” in saying that Alfie was “not the aggressor” that day.

Prosecutor Craig Hassall KC said during the trail that witnesses recalled Alfie looking "surprised and shocked" and backing away while saying "chill out and "What are you doing?" as Shojaeifard swung at him with the knife.

The murderer ran off, leaving the knife near the scene, and was arrested from his home about an hour later after being identified by witnesses.

Photos obtained from Bardia Shojaeifard's phone showing him posing with knives (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Shojaeifard admitted stabbing Alfie with a 13cm-long kitchen knife he had taken from home, but denied murder, claiming he was scared for his life when he pulled out the weapon and acting in self-defence.

Detectives from West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team launched a murder investigation.

The kitchen knife, which was matched to a set of knives at the boy’s home, was forensically examined and blood matching Alfie’s DNA was found on it.

Alfie’s blood was also found on the Shojaeifard’s clothing where he had briefly replaced the knife in his waistband before discarding it near the scene.

The handle of the knife had been painted black and he is believed to have carried it with him at school all day, preparing to seek out Alfie at home time.

Shojaeifard told the jury he was scared of Alfie after two incidents in the months before.

There was one in July last year where Alfie intervened during a fight between the defendant and another boy, then another on October 31.

Shohaeifard said he walked past Alife's house on Halloween with a bag of fireworks and Alfie said to him: “Give me the bag or something worse than last time is going to happen.”

The defendant said that, when he returned to school after a half-term break, he decided to take a knife from the kitchen drawer to protect himself.

Mr Justice Cotter said he did not accept Shojaeifard’s evidence that he was “trying to scare Alfie away and swung the knife aimlessly”.

“You intended to cause him really serious harm. You carefully planned to confront Alfie to gain revenge for whatever happened on October 31,” the judge told the defendant.

Tributes left on a bench on Broadgate Lane, Horsforth following the death of Alfie Lewis (Image: PA)

He said one witness described Shojaeifard’s attack as “vicious” and that he was “trying as much as he could to inflict some sort of damage to Alfie”.

Shojaeifard had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a kitchen knife used in the incident.

Mr Justice Cotter said people would be wondering how a young boy “from a loving and supportive family” could commit such an “extraordinary” crime “without forewarning or any warning signs save for some pictures of knives on his phone”.

“Outwardly Bardia was a normal 14-year-old boy with no interest in crime, albeit with a poor school disciplinary record,” the judge said.

The court heard he had no interest in drugs, gangs or mental health issues.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said: “Shojaeifard targeted Alfie in a premeditated and planned attack using murderous violence to end his young life, for which there can be no excuse or justification.

“His actions have robbed Alfie of his future and left his family and friends absolutely devastated.

"No sentence will ever compensate them for their loss.

“Shojaeifard will have the rest of his life to reflect on the terrible pain and heartache that his violent actions have caused Alfie’s family.”