The court heard that Tajzai, an Afghan asylum seeker, wrongly believed Sherzad belonged to the Taliban, which had kidnapped his father and was suspected of killing him.
The court was also told Sherzad had been arrested in Leeds in October over an allegation involving a woman known to Tajzai. He told officers he had been invited to the address and was in a relationship with her, and police later said no further action would be taken.
In January, Tajzai travelled to London and carried out reconnaissance near Sherzad’s Abbey Orchard Street home and his workplace, the court heard.
On 27 March he armed himself with a kitchen knife and took a train south, arriving at King’s Cross station in a face mask, distinctive jacket and dark gloves.
CCTV tracked him across the capital to Abbey Orchard Street, where he waited for Sherzad to cycle home from work at about 22:00 GMT.
