Runcorn cabbie found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Widnes man 
A TAXI driver has been found guilty of an attack which left a Widnes victim with severe brain damage.
Gary Whelan, 44, of Laburnum Grove, Runcorn, punched Mark Clare on April 8 this year.
He hit Mr Clare after he dropped him off in Widnes, causing him to fall and hit his head with a ‘sickening thud’.
The impact left him with a fractured skull and resulted in him suffering a severe brain injury.
At Chester Crown Court on Friday a jury of seven men and five women returned a unanimous guilty verdict on one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm against Mr Clare.
The judge had dismissed a more serious count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent when they were unable to reach a verdict.
Over the course of the four-day trial the court heard that on the night of the incident, 39-year-old Mr Clare had been out drinking and was sharing the cab home with four other people who he did not know, two men and two women.
But when one of the women was dropped off at her home in Hough Green, a drunken Mr Clare refused to contribute £1 taxi fare, got out, and started walking home in the wrong direction.
Myles Wilson, prosecuting, told the court: “He (Whelan) said ‘if he comes back I’m going to deck him’.
“He misread the situation.
“The passengers weren’t bothered but the defendant got involved.
“Realising he was going the wrong way, he (Mr Clare) turned around and walked back.
“The defendant got out of his seat, approached and grabbed him.
“He punched Mark Clare and he fell back causing a fracture to the back of his skull.”
Mr Clare’s injuries were so severe at the time it was thought he might die.
He was still undergoing treatment and cannot remember the incident.
Whelan was bailed and will be sentenced later this month.
source:
http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/runcorn-widnes-news/runcorn-widnes-local-news/2011/11/17/runcorn-cabbie-found-guilty-of-causing-grievous-bodily-harm-to-widnes-man-55368-29788206/
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