Taxi Driver Online

Bedford taxi driver Mehar Dhariwal 'murdered over fare'


Mehar Dhariwal told his family he had been in a car crash, the jury heard

A passenger beat a taxi driver to death in Bedford after being asked for a fare upfront, a jury has heard.

Mehar Dhariwal, 61, of Kempston, was racially abused, kicked and punched to the taxi office floor by Daniel Rogers on 22 January, Luton Crown Court heard.

The driver went to hospital and was discharged but died a week later after collapsing at home.

Mr Rogers, 27, of The Cloisters, Bedford, denies murder but has admitted the manslaughter of Mr Dhariwal.

Prosecutor Sarah Gaunt said Mr Rogers had been drinking in Bedford after an argument with his girlfriend and was in an "intoxicated state" when he arrived at the office of AGS taxis at 05:00 BST.

He got into a taxi with Mr Dhariwal, and was allegedly asked for payment upfront, which was company policy.

Miss Gaunt said Mr Rogers - who has Tourette syndrome - became racially abusive and aggressive, and Mr Dhariwal got out of the cab and discussed with another driver whether to call police.

'Covered in blood'

Mr Rogers got out of the car, kicked it, and followed Mr Dhariwal into the taxi office, she added.

"The attack was witnessed by Christine Clegg and John McAdam," said Miss Gaunt.

"It involved several punches and kicks to the victim with such ferocity he went to the floor.

"The defendant was very angry. Mr Dhariwal was not aggressive."

Mr Rogers left the office but was tracked by Mr McAdam and found and arrested by police.

Mr Dhariwal was covered in blood and had a lump on his head the size of an egg, and had suffered a injury to his chest.

When he was taken to hospital he was not given a CT scan and an X-ray did not detect a broken rib.

He told his family he had been involved in a car accident.

He passed out five days later, while at home with his daughters-in-law, and never regained consciousness.

The jury was told Mr Rogers had initially pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm when he appeared before Bedford magistrates before Mr Dhariwal's death.

The trial continues.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-19640157

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Man found guilty of murdering taxi driver


A jury has today found Daniel Rogers guilty of the murder of Bedford taxi driver Mehar Dhariwal.

Rogers was sentenced to life sentence at Luton Crown Court, and required to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison.

Following the trial Detective Chief Inspector Sean O’Neil from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit (BCHMCU) said:

“Mehar Dhariwal was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle who was cruelly taken from his family by the violent behaviour of Daniel Rogers who will spend the 25 years in prison for his actions.

“This was a tragic death of a taxi driver working hard and offering a service to the public.

“The attack on him was unprovoked and considerable.

“Mr Dhariwal had merely asked for a taxi fare to be paid in advance. Before he died of his serious injuries Mr Dhariwal still had sympathy for Rogers and did not want his own family to know that he had been attacked while doing the job he loved.

“Rogers may not have meant to kill but he did, and now Mr Dhariwal’s family have to live every day without him.

“I hope that the knowledge that the person responsible has been brought to justice will go some way in helping them begin to rebuild their lives.”

Mr Dhariwal was attacked by Rogers on January 22 at around 5am in the front office of AGS Taxis on St Peter’s Street where he worked.

But he did not tell his family about the incident and a week later died of his injuries at his home in Kempston.

The family Mehar Dhariwal also issued a statement following the result of the court case which reads: “While this sentence will never bring dad back, we are happy that justice has been done.

“We want him to be remembered as the people person that he was. He loved being out and about in the community meeting people every day – firstly as a bus driver for 35 years and then as a taxi driver.

“Our dad loved his family more than anything in the world. He leaves behind a loving wife, three sons, three daughter-in-laws and four grandchildren who have found it difficult to cope without him and who miss him very much.

“We would like to thank everyone - family, friends and those who have fond memories of our dad, for all the support and help that has been offered since his death. All that we ask is that our dad is remembered for the man that he was.”

http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/loca ... -1-4334720

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I can see an appeal here and I wouldn't bet against him winning it either.

_________________
Grandad,

You know, sometimes I have to wonder if this bloody job is worth it.

_________________

http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I know not why you allow this muck to walk street and there is always an excuse for why it happened, everyone have excuse for criminal nobody seem to really care for victim, 22 beats up a 61 year old, that alone is bad enough for the age difference.

It was quite nice when I got job here in 91, now it look like lots of defective cars as people, they brakes fail and it's the man they hit that is to blame for it, I take back to Rio, they behave then, no soft judge to let them away with it.

Take it from me Mr Grandad the Appeals Court wont, on this occasion, go against a jury.

_________________
IDFIMH