A man described by a psychiatrist as “one of the most mentally unwell men I have treated in my career” has been sent to Broadmoor Hospital after launching a frenzied sword attack on his neighbour. Abdul Khan, 27, fatally stabbed 49-year-old Bohdan Vandzhura 39 times in just 39 seconds while experiencing psychotic hallucinations. The brutal attack, which occurred in July 2023, was caught on CCTV and described as “premeditated, ferocious and sustained.”
The fatal incident happened just months after Khan was wrongfully released from a psychiatric ward due to a “misdiagnosis.” He was diagnosed with an alcohol-related disorder and allowed to walk free from hospital four days after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. This premature release was made possible by his father, Khalid Khan, 62, who applied for his discharge. Khalid Khan was later convicted of assisting an offender after hiding his son’s bloodied clothing in a garage and lying to the police. He has been jailed for four years.
The court heard how Mr. Vandzhura, a hardworking father-of-two from Ukraine, had moved to England to support his wife and two young sons, aged 12 and 4. On the day of his death, Mr. Vandzhura was on his way to work when Khan ambushed him, wielding a large sword concealed in a holdall. Despite the desperate efforts of bystanders shouting and honking their horns to stop the attack, Mr. Vandzhura stood no chance of defending himself.
Judge Lynn Tayton KC, while sentencing Khan, said: “His loss has left a huge hole in the life of his wife and children and that of his sister and other family members.” She noted that Mr. Vandzhura had “no chance to defend himself” against the ferocious assault.
The court also heard how Khan had attacked another man, Santa Shrestha, on two separate occasions within a span of six months. The first incident, in August 2022, saw Khan knock Mr. Shrestha to the ground, repeatedly punching and stamping on his head, an assault described as “extraordinary and shocking.” Mr. Shrestha spent four days in hospital and suffered memory loss, making him unable to identify his attacker to the police.
Six months later, Khan attacked Mr. Shrestha again, punching him in the face in another random act of hostility. As a result of these attacks, Mr. Shrestha was forced to leave the Harrow area due to fear for his safety. “When he is out and about, he still fears someone will attack him,” Judge Tayton said.
In May 2023, Khan was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after being arrested at a pub for grabbing a man by the throat and threatening to firebomb the venue. However, due to a misdiagnosis, he was released from the psychiatric ward after just four days. Less than two months later, he murdered Mr. Vandzhura.
Khan admitted to the manslaughter of Mr. Vandzhura by reason of diminished responsibility and was found guilty of the attempted murder of Mr. Shrestha following a trial. The court heard chilling details of Khan’s thought process, including his own admission that he was “a psycho back then – too aggressive and explosive – when sufficiently provoked it results in outbursts of physical violence.”
Khan was handed a hospital order with a restriction order for the “protection of the public from serious harm” and sent to Broadmoor Hospital for treatment. His father, Khalid Khan, will serve a four-year prison sentence for his role in assisting his son.
This harrowing case raises serious concerns about the failures in mental health assessments and the tragic consequences of releasing dangerous individuals too soon. Mr. Vandzhura’s family continues to mourn his loss, while Mr. Shrestha remains haunted by his encounters with Khan.
