An Uber driver killed a passenger in a hit and run in Glasgow city centre last August 5.
GlasgowLive reports that Kunathilinghan Mohanthas fatally struck Christopher Hanton after the cabbie had told the 40 year-old mortgage advisor to get out of his Mercedes Vito just moments after picking him up.
The 48 year-old deliberately hit Mr Hanton as he then drove off leaving the dad of one for dead. Mr Hanton never recovered after hitting his head on the ground and passed away in hospital days later.
Mohanthas now faces a lengthy jail-term after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday 16 April, to a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Glasgow.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in May.
Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC told how Mr Hanton, of Chryston, North Lanarkshire, had been on a night out with friends. He then ordered a taxi home on the Uber app around 10.30pm.
Mohanthas was allocated the pick up and drove to the city's George Street where Mr Hanton was. Mr Hanton went in the back before the cabbie then got out and asked him to leave his vehicle, which he did.
Mohanthas then began a three-point turn - Mr Hanton approached the Mercedes meantime and slapped the back of the vehicle. He ended up in front of the taxi with the car now stationery.
Mr Cameron then explained: "To complete the three-point turn, Mohanthas would have steered to the right. Instead, he made a sudden turn to the left towards Mr Hanton, who was struck by the front of the vehicle.
"This caused him to fall backwards and strike his head on the road. Mohanthas did not stop - he continued steering to the right again, completed his turn and drove off."
Passers-by went to help a bleeding Mr Hanton. He was rushed to hospital, but he passed away on August 9 due to the head injury.
Mohanthas walked back to the scene 15 minutes later. He approached a police officer and admitted he had "hit" Mr Hanton.
Mohanthas, of Glasgow, stated he had refused to take the dad and claimed Mr Hanton had then started "punching" his car. He later added: "I have not done anything to anyone deliberately."
Mr Cameron said Mohanthas had previous convictions for dishonesty and a public order offence. Lord Clark deferred sentencing for reports until May 13 in Kilmarnock.
The judge told Mohanthas: "You have pleaded guilty to killing a man by deliberately driving your car at him. You hit him causing him to fall backwards striking his head on the road.
"This was an extremely serious act of violence which has had devastating consequences."
In a tribute following the tragedy, Mr Hanton's family spoke of a "devoted and dedicated husband" to his wife as well as a "loving father" to his young son.
Source: https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-uber-driver-killed-devoted-29005960
The incident occurred at around 10.36pm on Saturday, April 27, on Bourne Avenue, next to the Upper Gardens.
New research has suggested that passengers think the capital's next mayor and TfL should be doing more to support the city's iconic black cabs as they are 'at risk of becoming extinct'.
A "lifeline" vehicle which transports some of the most vulnerable, disabled and disadvantaged members of the community was subject of "mindless" vandalism.
The taxi firm could soon be on the streets of the Granite City after reapplying to operate in Aberdeen having previously withdrawn their last application in 2019.
A new maximum taxi fare has been approved for areas of Oxfordshire despite concern the scheme is "rubbish" and the authority responsible is "behaving like a dictator".
More than 300 taxis are still not compliant with Glagow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) rules, it has been confirmed.
The cabbie and his brothers “cornered and attacked” a man who used to work in their father’s butchers shop.
Police have released mugshots of three people who tried to force an Uber driver to give them money. The driver was racially abused and beaten up by one of the three.
Changes to taxi fares on the Isle of Man have seen maximum prices rise and the late-night tariff pulled forward by an hour.
A taxi driver has suffered several head injuries after being attacked by two passengers in robbery attempt.