Taxi Driver Online

TAXI DRIVER 'KILLED MAN AFTER FARE ROW'

A Taxi driver killed his passenger by crushing him against a car, a court has heard. Driver John Shackleton, 32, denies killing 37-year-old Mark Boynton, of Amethyst Road, east Hull, on August 26 last year in Ashwell Avenue, Greatfield.

He is on trial at Hull Crown Court for causing death by dangerous driving. The court heard that following a row over the taxi fare, Mr Boynton chased the cab along Helmswell Avenue, Greatfield, and clung to the side of the window.

It is alleged Mr Shackleton, of Borthwick Close, Bransholme, deliberately steered his vehicle into a line of parked cars, which caused Mr Boynton to be crushed and dragged under the taxi. He then drove off claiming he did not realise his passenger had been injured. Mr Boynton died at the scene from fatal head injuries.

Mr Boynton had caught the cab in Lowgate, city centre, after a night drinking in the city and was abusive to the taxi driver as he drove him to his girlfriend Rebecca Bielby's house in Helmswell Avenue. He claimed the driver was taking a longer route and was wrongly charging him.

When they reached the destination Mr Boynton was charged £8.50 for the journey, but only gave the driver £6. Prosecutor Robin Frieze said: "The deceased was drunk and obnoxious. He was abusive and aggressive about the fare and it is clear he formed a view the defendant was robbing him. "The defendant was worried about the behaviour of the deceased."

As he left the vehicle the driver shouted "Is this where you live? I'm going to get the police round" which prompted Mr Boynton to chase the taxi along the road shouting "Come on, then".

Mr Boynton's girlfriend watched him leave the cab and then chase after the taxi after the driver spoke to him. She claims Mr Shackleton then played "cat and mouse" with her partner by stopping his cab at least three times waiting for Mr Boynton to catch up and then setting off again.

Mr Frieze said: "We say he played cat and mouse. He lost his temper with the deceased and tried to wind him up. "By the time they were round the bend, the defendant told the police he was clinging on. He drove into Ashwell Avenue with the deceased clinging to the taxi.

"We say he deliberately drove so close to the parked vehicles as to knock the deceased or push him against them. We say he was trying to dislodge him. "He told the police he panicked and drove off because he was worried about the behaviour from the deceased.

"He did not think his injuries were sufficiently serious to stop and did nothing. He left him tragically laying dead in the road. The prosecution say he must have known he ran him over." Mr Boynton was four times over the alcohol limit when he died.

The trial continues.

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IDFIMH

Don't tell me the [edited by admin] hanging on the to the side of the vehicle didn't have the opportunity to let go before hitting the parked cars. Oh and lets not forget the sign on the side of the taxi saying "hang onto my window if you want to kick my head in"....

You couldn't make this up....

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

If you get into an argument with a customer the ONLY thing you should do is drive away that could so easily have gone the other way and been a passenger on trial for murder or GBH against the driver. It aint worth the risk and now it could well be career over and a lengthy spell in jail

A fair point but taking that sh** and driving away is the hardest part.


This is why CCTV should be installed in every vehicle. I can't help feeling the outcome would have been entirely different for both parties concerned knowing they were on camera. The incident might not have occurred in the first place.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I think we should be allowed to carry a gun and put a bullet in any passenger who gets on our nerves. I think this would be a good way of making passengers behave themselves.

Anyone agree.

(Been a bad day in Barnsley today)

It does have its merits.

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IDFIMH

The mistake this driver made was leaving the scene of the accident and not reporting it. I think thats bound to go against him.

Regards

JD

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