The passenger who killed a beloved private hire driver after a fight over a fare has been found guilty of manslaughter.
The Express and Star reports that a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court found Tomasz Margol not guilty of murder, which sparked emotional scenes in the public gallery from Anakh Singh's family.
Margol punched and headbutted Mr Singh during a street fight between the two on Sunday, October 30, and the 59-year-old father of two, who suffered from heart disease, died shortly after.
Mr Singh and Margol had been arguing over a £5.80 fare, which had been paid online but had not shown up on the private hire driver's system, when he arrived at the Nine Elms Road property in Park Village.
The jury found Margol guilty of manslaughter after four hours and 55 minutes of deliberation. The majority guilty verdict for manslaughter was 11-1.
After the verdict the court was told Margol had previous convictions for robbery and assaulting a police officer in his homeland Poland in 2016 and assaulting a police officer in Wolverhampton in 2021.
During the two-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court the jury was shown CCTV footage of the fight which led to the death of Mr Singh.
There was a massive outpouring of grief after Mr Singh died with more than £11,000 being raised for his family after ABC taxis set up a GoFundMe page.
When he was arrested, he made a significant comment, telling officers: "Its about what happened today... about the beating."
Mr Singh’s family paid tribute, saying: “Anakh Singh was a loving husband, father and a well-respected member of the community.
“This loss has left us heartbroken and has forever changed our lives. We miss him dearly.
“We would also like to thank everyone who has supported us during this tough time.”
DI Michelle Thurgood, from our Force CID, said: "This was a senseless and tragic act of violence.
"Mr Singh was a law-abiding man of good character who was simply trying to do his job. Our thoughts remain with Mr Singh's family at this difficult time."
Judge Michael Chambers KC told Margol: "You have been found guilty of manslaughter. You will be kept in custody until your sentencing."
Margol, 36, of Merridale, will be sentenced on Tuesday, July 11.
Eastbourne and Willingdon MP Caroline Ansell and a representative from Eastbourne Taxi Operators have urged the council to launch a consultation on the trade in the town.
The Sussex Express reports that a survey by the MP has found that nearly half of Eastbourne residents who responded are waiting more than an hour for a taxi due to driver shortages.
She commissioned the online survey to gauge residents’ experiences of taxi use following concerns from drivers that regulations are making drivers leave the trade.
The MP is also hoping to bring the council’s licensing department and taxi drivers together to try and ensure more taxis are on the roads.
This has led to Mrs Ansell and the representative from the Eastbourne Taxi Operators, Jeff Defalco, to call for the launch of a new public consultation to help keep drivers in the trade.
Mrs Ansell said: “I want to urge the borough council to recognise the loss of taxi drivers is a huge blow to residents and visitors alike and it is potentially putting people in danger late at night.
“There are many issues at play and I have asked the council to sit down with me and Jeff, as the taxi representative, before the next licensing committee meeting.
“But it is crucial a new consultation is launched so that everyone can have their say on what is a good way forward that keeps people safe in the cars and allows them to be safe by actually being able to call a cab when they need one late at night or to go to a hospital appointment.
“The consultation can also address another key ask: to better understand the roll out of CCTV to find a proper evidence base and impact assessment of this decision, especially when other local councils are not implementing it.”
Jeff Defalco added: “Lewes Council has announced that the mandatory CCTV licence condition is returning to full public consultation, along with much-needed changes to testing to enable the trade to attract drivers and bring Lewes in line with other progressive authorities around the country.
“We, the Eastbourne taxi/private hire operators, would kindly request the same be afforded to Eastbourne by the council.
Taxi drivers may no longer be tested on their local knowledge of the area under plans being considered by Bracknell Forest Council.
According to the Bracknell News, currently drivers of all taxis and private hire vehicles have to pass a “knowledge test” before the council will grant them a licence.
Hackney carriage drivers also have to pass a verbal test of specific routes to destinations in the borough based on map work.
But now Bracknell Forest Council’s licensing committee is considering getting rid of the test, with some councillors saying its no longer needed with widespread use of satnavs.
Yet some hackney carriage drivers in Bracknell have spoken out in favour of keeping it.
Asghar Ali, who has been a hackney carriage driver in Bracknell for 13 years, said it’s important for drivers to have local knowledge.
He said: “They shouldn’t get rid of the knowledge test because if you don’t have a knowledge of the area, that will be a problem for the resident and a problem for the drivers as well.
“It’s not difficult. If you give it a good two weeks you can pass it, but without the knowledge test it shouldn’t be allowed.”
He also worried that making it easier to get a licence would make it harder for drivers to get work – noting that rules are less strict for private hire firms such as Uber.
“If they go with the changes everyone will get licences,” he said. “And there’s not enough work for the present drivers.”
And another driver, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I think new taxi drivers should have to take the knowledge test – you have to have your brain working.
“Ubers depend more on GPS. But if the signal has a problem they can’t do anything, they can’t help anyone.”
But not every hackney carriage driver thinks it’s important to keep the knowledge test. Gokarna Rai, a driver since 2010, said: “It’s not necessary now, because of the satnav.
"Even these days we don’t need to look at the direction signboards. We always follow the satnav.”
The council’s licensing and safety committee is due to discuss the changes on Thursday, June 22.
It could vote to scrap the test, keep it, or launch a consultation before making a final decision in October.
Source: https://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/23602226.bracknell-taxi-drivers-say-keep-knowledge-test/
A drunken offender spat at a cabbie following a heated argument over change and was arrested after nearby police officers witnessed the crime.
According to the Falkirk Herald, Luke Whittaker, 31, appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday 15 June, having pleaded guilty to assault – spitting at a taxi driver – in Newmarket Street, Falkirk, on July 30 last year.
Rachel Hill, procurator fiscal depute, said: “It was 12.30am and police were on patrol in Falkirk town centre.
"The complainer, a taxi driver, was on duty when the accused approached him and asked him if he accepted cash for payment.
"The taxi driver advised him cash was accepted and the accused then asked the driver if he took change.
"The taxi driver asked him what he meant by ‘change’, stating ‘of course I accept change’ and the accused became irate by this and slammed the door of the taxi.
"Police officers saw the slamming of the door and approached the accused. They saw him lean into the open window and spit directly into the taxi at the complainer, which just missed him.
"The accused then walked away and police stopped him.”
Sheriff Alison Michie said: “The offence which you’ve pleaded guilty to is a particularly serious an unpleasant offence – spitting at a taxi driver who was out serving members of the public over something truly trivial.”
She placed Whittaker, from Falkirk, on a restriction of liberty order, meaning he must remain in his home between 8pm and 7am each day for the next two months.
He was also ordered to pay the taxi driver £250 compensation at a rate of £30 per week.
An Enniskillen man who damaged the windscreen of a taxi after getting a lift from Omagh to Enniskillen has been handed several fines for his actions.
According to The Impartial Reporter, at around 5.35am on November 6, 2022, police received a report that a man had refused to pay a £50 taxi fare and had smashed the windscreen of the taxi.
Police arrived and observed the damage, and the reporting party told them Niall Patrick Johnston, 27, from Enniskillen, had gone into a nearby property.
Johnston was escorted out and told police he was willing to pay the fare, but he had no money on him, Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard on Monday 19 June.
He was arrested and cautioned, and told police he did not remember what happened, but that he would pay for the fare and damage.
Michael Fahy, representing Johnston, told the court his client had paid for the damage and the taxi fare while he also wrote a letter of apology which he handed to the taxi company.
He said this incident was "alcohol-fuelled" as Johnston had been out in Omagh and got a local taxi to bring him to Enniskillen.
Continuing, he said Johnston had even given his wallet and phone as security that he would "make good" on the fare when he got to Enniskillen.
However, Mr Fahy said the interventions of Johnston's friends created issues with the taxi driver, and an attempted swing was made at the taxi driver, but there was no contact.
Mr. Fahy said Johnston realised the severity and unsavoury nature of his actions and this made him go to Omagh to make good for his "inappropriate and unnecessary behaviour".
He added that Johnston did all he could to rectify the matter, the court heard.
District Judge Alana McSorley told Johnston this was an assault on an employee providing a service to him; however, she also took into account his attempts to make reparations.
Johnston was convicted of criminal damage, making off without paying, and common assault, which saw him fined a total of £300.
He was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the taxi driver.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.
Taxi drivers across the Fylde Coast are set to receive a briefing note aimed at clearing up confusion over out-of-area private hire vehicles.
Police are appealing to find a taxi driver who may have "vital clues" about the murder of Ryan Passey seven years ago since he was fatally stabbed in a Stourbridge nightclub.