Alfie Lewis

Alfie Lewis, a 15-year-old schoolboy from Horsforth, Leeds, was murdered on 7 November 2023 shortly after 3pm as he walked home from school.

He was stabbed twice with a 13cm kitchen knife at the junction of Church Road and Church Lane, outside St Margaret’s Primary School, in full view of young children leaving school and other pupils. One stab wound went through the heart and severed a rib; the other was to the leg. Alfie collapsed and died at the scene despite emergency efforts.

Bardia Shojaeifard, who was 14 years old at the time of the killing, carried out the attack. He had brought the knife from home and had a documented “worrying interest in knives.” The pair had a prior altercation about a week earlier. Shojaeifard pushed Alfie to the ground before stabbing him. He claimed self-defence, saying he was scared, but the jury rejected this.

On 21 June 2024 at Leeds Crown Court, he was sentenced to detention for life (the youth equivalent of life imprisonment) with a minimum term of 13 years. The judge lifted his anonymity order due to the seriousness of the case and to highlight knife crime. Because of his young age at the time of the offence, he may be eligible to apply for a review of his minimum term after serving half (around 2029–2030), which has caused distress to Alfie’s family.

Rest in peace Alfie. You will not be forgotten.