Taxi Driver Online

‘Despicable and cowardly’ – Man jailed for assault during fracas which led to death of Brian Fox at taxi rank

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... l-50686558


Image: BBC/Alan Richardson

A man who carried out assaults during a fracas at a taxi rank during which a man died has been jailed for two years.

Adam Valentine, 25, pushed a woman who was knocked out after she struck her head on the ground.

Valentine also punched Brian Fox on the body in the New Year's day assault in Dundee's Nethergate.

He was originally charged with killing the 62-year-old while acting with co-accused Wes Reid, but admitted a lesser charge of assault.

A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh acquitted Mr Reid of culpable homicide on a majority not guilty verdict in November.

The court was told that Mr Fox, who was trying to act as a peacemaker, sustained a fatal head injury when he fell and struck his head on the ground after Mr Reid punched him.

The court heard that Valentine's attack occurred when Mr Fox was unconscious after the initial blow was struck.

Valentine was also found guilty of assaulting Sandra Baird to her severe injury and to the danger of her life at the taxi rank.

Lord Beckett told Valentine that the assault on Mr Fox as he lay unconscious was "despicable and cowardly" but said that it "played no part in his death."

The judge said the assault on Ms Baird has had physical and emotional consequences for her.

Lord Beckett told Valentine it was necessary to punish him and to seek to deter him and others from "engaging in random acts of violence".


Brian Fox died in Ninewells Hospital after suffering a head injury (Image: BBC/Edinburgh Courts Press Services)

Not much one can add that hasn't already been said elsewhere.

Other than that sometimes justice doesn't get done.

_________________
IDFIMH

Deja vu here as well, and it's another assault at a rank in Scotland, and like in Airdrie the crime took place at the same rank

But, unlike the last time round, this assault seems relatively minor, and it's not clear if there was any taxi involvement except for the fact that the assailant got into one


Police probe after man assaulted at taxi rank in Dundee

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/du ... in-dundee/

A police investigation has been launched after a man was assaulted at a taxi rank in Dundee.

The incident happened at the Nethergate rank in the city centre shortly before 3am on Monday morning.

The victim was walking near Tesco Express when two men shouted over to him at the Nethergate rank.

As the man approached the pair he was struck on the head by one of the males during the incident.

The assailant – described as 5ft 10ins in height – then entered a taxi with the other man as the victim remained at the scene.

Whilst he suffered no injuries police are now trying to piece together the events which led to the altercation.

Appeal for information

A spokesperson for the Police Scotland said: “We are currently investigating an assault which allegedly took place at the Nethergate taxi rank in Dundee city centre, at about 2:45am on Monday 15th August.

“The victim was walking along the south side of Nethergate when he became aware of two men standing at the taxi rank shouting over to him.

“When he crossed over to the taxi rank, one of the other two men struck him in the head.

“Fortunately he was not injured, and both the other parties got into a taxi and left the area.

“The person responsible is described as white, about 5ft 10, slim build and with short dark hair.

“A number of lines of enquiry are ongoing but we would like to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity at the time and may have seen or heard part of this incident.

“If you have any information you can given us, please call 101 or speak to any police officer.

“Also, information can be given anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111. Our reference is incident 0390 of 15th August.”