Why we are campaigning for Wayne’s Law

Wayne’s Law is our proposal to create a new category of murder by diminished responsibility for cases in which mental illness substantially impaired the offender’s judgement or self-control, but an intention to kill can still be proved. We believe this would allow the law to recognise both the role of mental illness and the seriousness of the act.

On 27 October 2025, Wayne Broadhurst—a much-loved partner, uncle and friend—was walking his beloved dog, Harry. It was part of his daily routine, and he was following his usual route. As he left an alleyway and entered Midhurst Gardens, he encountered Safi Dawood.

Dawood immediately attacked Wayne in what can only be described as a horrific and frenzied assault that tragically took Wayne’s life. Wayne suffered 14 injuries to his head, neck, chest and back, five of which were unsurvivable. Minutes earlier, Dawood had carried out a sustained attack on his landlord and had also attacked a 14-year-old boy. His landlord was incredibly fortunate to survive.

On the 29th October 2025, Dawood was charged with the murder of Wayne, two counts of attempted murder, one relating to his landlord and the other on the 14 year old boy and possession of an offensive weapon. 

On the 13th July 2026 the CPS formally notified the Southwark Crown Court it was accepting a plea to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. 

On the 17th July 2026 the CPS publicly explained its decision, saying four psychiatrists had concluded that Dawood was suffering from a psychotic depression and that his condition substantially impaired his ability to form a rational judgement and exercise self-control.

The case concluded with Dawood being convicted of the following offences:

1 Manslaughter by diminished responsibility

2 Attempted murder on his landlord

3 ABH on the 14-year-old boy after the jury failed to reach a verdivt on attempted murder

4 Offensive weapon charge

His sentence-Indefinite hospital order – section37/41 mental health act 1983

 

We have chosen to campaign for Wayne’s Law not to change the outcome of this case—we know that is not possible—but to help prevent other families from feeling that justice has not been done.

As a family, we were devastated to learn that Dawood would not be convicted of murder. We felt let down by the justice system and struggled to understand how Wayne’s death could be treated as manslaughter. To us, the decision seemed to lessen the seriousness of what had happened. The case was also being discussed widely on social media, where many people expressed the same reaction: how could this be manslaughter rather than murder? We chose to channel that pain into something positive.

We began learning about the law of homicide, the way mental illness can affect judgement and self-control, and what those principles meant for Wayne’s case. Through our research, we learned that when diminished responsibility is successfully established, the offence is manslaughter rather than murder.

 

We believe that law should be broadened and that’s what we are proposing. 

Through Wayne’s Law, we are asking for a new category to be added: murder by diminished responsibility, applying where mental illness is acknowledged to have played a part but an intention to kill can still be proved.

Our aim is not to change the outcome of Wayne’s case, diminish the importance of mental health, or lessen the seriousness of either factor when both are present.

This is about helping families feel that justice has been done by allowing a murder charge to remain available where an intention to kill can be proved, while still acknowledging the role that mental illness played.

 

Wayne cannot benefit from a change in the law, but future families can. 

That is why we are campaigning for Wayne’s Law.