Taxi driver bit man and hit him with chair leg in road rage incident
A taxi driver bit a van driver's thumb and hit him over the head with a wooden chair leg in a road rage incident in Cardiff.
Awil Karshe, 42, attacked Nathan Lloyd after pulling open his Transit door while the van was stuck in traffic and bit down hard on his thumb when the victim tried to push him out.
When Mr Lloyd left the van Karshe hit him twice to the top of the head with a chair or table leg he had kept in his taxi, causing a wound which required staples in hospital.
The incident took place in Wellington Street, Riverside, during the rush hour period on October 10 last year.
The defendant denied the offences and claimed he was the victim and had been racially abused but he was found guilty of unlawful wounding and possession of an offensive weapon following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
Recounting the facts of the case in court on Friday, Recorder Paul Lewis QC said Karshe was driving along Albert Street around 6pm when he was obstructed by a van belonging to Mr Lloyd who was in the process of helping his father move a fridge freezer.
He described the defendant as being "anxious to pass" and "impatient" and said he began to sound his horn.
Karshe, of Pentre Gardens, Grangetown, got out of his taxi and began to verbally abuse Mr Lloyd's father and in retaliation Mr Lloyd punched the defendant's wing mirror.
The victim drove off, with his girlfriend Lauren Davies in the passenger seat, but was followed by Karshe who was described as "angry" and "bent on confrontation".
When Mr Lloyd stopped at traffic lights in Wellington Street Karshe pulled into a nearside lane and jumped out of the taxi while armed with the wooden leg.
Recorder Lewis said: "You brandished the weapon as if to strike the passenger window of the van but stopped within inches of the glass.
"You opened the passenger door of the van and leaned in while holding the weapon close to Lauren Davies' face, who was terrified by your behaviour.
"Mr Lloyd undid his seatbelt and reached over to push you out and you then bit down hard on his left thumb causing him injury.
"Having pushed you from the van Mr Lloyd climbed out of the van by climbing over his girlfriend. You attacked him and hit him at least twice to the top of the head with the chair or table leg causing a wound."
The struggle continued and Mr Lloyd punched Karshe in self-defence but when both of them ended up on the floor the defendant got up, jumped into his van, and drove on the pavement to avoid traffic and make his escape.
Mr Lloyd was left bleeding from the head wound and was taken to hospital where he received six staples as well as hepatitis and tetanus injections for the bite wound.
During his trial Karshe claimed Mr Lloyd was the aggressor in the case, that he was racially abused and defended himself with the leg which he found in the street, but this was rejected by the jury and by Recorder Lewis.
He added: "You were the aggressor. You had that table or chair leg with you in that taxi and took it from you car for the specific intention of using it to cause injury."
Defence barrister said Karshe had family in Somali he sent money to who would be affected by his incarceration but Recorder Lewis said only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified.
Karshe was sentenced to a total of two years in jail.
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