Hockley brothers 'threatened taxi driver with hammer over pay row'https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/195524 ... r-pay-row/DRUNK brothers threatened to “smash a taxi driver’s face in” with a hammer before trashing his car in a row after he asked for payment in advance, a court heard.Brothers Callum and Craig Murphy from Hockley are standing trial alleged to have caused the taxi driver to flee to a nearby restaurant for safety from the attack after getting into his cab.
The trial heard that Craig Murphy, 31, burst into a fit of range and held the hammer to the driver’s face while holding his jaw and making threats.
It is also alleged that Callum Murphy, along with Jordan Dean, had hurled abuse at the driver from the back seat when he asked for a fare to be paid in advance of the journey.
The Murphy brothers, both of Selbourne Road, Hockley, and Dean, 32, of Laburnum Walk, Hornchurch, deny affray.
A jury of six men and women heard that the trio had gone out in Brentwood on October 24, 2018, and at around 10.10pm they had got into the cab after an evening of drinking.
Prosecuting, Gabrielle McAvock said: “The defendants got inside the taxi and said they wanted to travel to Gidea Park.
“He [the driver] said the fare would be £20 and he wanted it in advance of the journey to be paid for his services.
“Craig Murphy said ‘just drive and we will give you the money when we get there’.
“The other defendants in the back of the car became involved in shouting abuse at the taxi driver.
“They said they were angry the driver asked for the fare in advance.
“It seems they didn’t have the money to pay for the fare.
“Craig Murphy who was in the front passenger seat grabbed the jawline area and took a hammer out of his rucksack.
“Craig held the hammer close to the driver’s face and said words to the effect of ‘I will smash you with this hammer if you don’t drive’ and ‘I’m going to f****** drag you out of the car and drive myself if you don’t drive’.”
Ms McAvock said Craig then got out of the car and went around to the driver’s side, and the driver got out and ran to a nearby restaurant for help.
As he left his Volkswagen Passat, the three men allegedly got out and kicked it, causing up to £1,000 worth of damage, before fleeing the scene.
The trial, expected to last the remainder of the week, continues.
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