A man has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead and a child seriously injured at a house in Ashford earlier this year, Surrey Police have confirmed.
Incident and investigation
Officers were called to a property on Woodthorpe Road at 1.15pm on 16 January 2025 following concerns for welfare. At the scene a woman in her 20s was found with very serious injuries and was pronounced dead. A young child was also discovered with serious injuries, taken to hospital for treatment and subsequently discharged.
The deceased has been identified in reporting as Laleh Zarejouneghani, 27. A 35-year-old man, Milad Ghafari (born 26/08/1990), who was known to the victims, was arrested at the time. He has now been charged with murder, attempted murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
“I was left shell-shocked after the incident, it was like a scene from a film,”
The arrest and subsequent charging of Mr Ghafari bring to a close a lengthy police inquiry in the local neighbourhood, which residents say has been left stunned by the events.
Court appearance and next steps
Mr Ghafari is due to appear at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 23 July 2026. The charges were announced by Surrey Police as the investigation moved from the initial response phase into criminal proceedings.
Prosecutors will now consider the evidence gathered by detectives while the court determines bail and the timetable for further hearings. No additional details about the alleged circumstances have been released by officers at this stage.
Local impact and safety
The incident took place in a residential part of Ashford, and neighbours described feeling shocked by the severity of the attack. Local policing resources were engaged immediately in January 2025, and detectives have continued to work on the case since the original arrest.
- Location: Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, Surrey
- Date of incident: 16 January 2025, around 1.15pm
- Victim: Laleh Zarejouneghani, aged 27 (deceased)
- Accused: Milad Ghafari, DOB 26/08/1990 — charged with murder, attempted murder, and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent
- Court: Guildford Magistrates’ Court — hearing due 23 July 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 16 Jan 2025 | Police called to Woodthorpe Road; woman and child found with serious injuries; woman pronounced dead; man arrested |
| 23 Jul 2026 | Accused due to appear at Guildford Magistrates’ Court following charging |
Surrey Police have not published further information on motive or the precise circumstances that led to the injuries. Anyone with information about the incident who has not already spoken to officers is asked to contact Surrey Police quoting the reference for the original investigation.
This case will be monitored closely in the coming days as court proceedings commence and more details become available through the criminal justice process.
