Not often stuff like this is reported over more than one article, but the trial is proceeding
(Yes, thread title should read 'accused', but ran out of space and can't be bothered changing it
)Man 'punched taxi driver and made racially abusive comments', trial hears
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... e-25177981
David Platt, 30, is on trial at Manchester Crown Court
A man punched a taxi driver in the face as he was driving before hurling racist abuse at him, a trial has heard.
David Platt, 30, and a woman got into the taxi in Monsall before they asked to be taken to a convenience shop in Harpurhey, Manchester Crown Court heard. Minutes later, they returned to the taxi and asked to be taken back, but gave the driver different instructions, leading him to a ‘dead end’ street, it was said.
The driver then felt a ‘punch’ to the right side of his face, before he got out of the car, he told jurors. The woman ran away, whilst Mr Platt, of Canons Grove, Monsall, shouted at the taxi driver: “I’m going to knock you out”, jurors heard.
He then allegedly said to the driver: “Look what you are wearing, P*** b*****d”.
Mr Platt is charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and racially aggravated wounding, and is on trial at Manchester Crown Court.
Today, Mohammed Zubair, a taxi driver for Cresta Cars, gave evidence from the witness box.
He told jurors that on May 3 this year it was the second day of Eid, and he was wearing ‘traditional Pakistani clothing’ which included a ‘long dress’ that goes down to the knee. Mr Zubair said that at around 4.30pm he was called to Canons Grove for a fare, and said that he waited for a few minutes before a man and a woman came from behind to get into the car.
“They said they were going to the shop on Rochdale Road and I drove there,” he said. “They told me to put the radio on, they just told me to go to the shop and I went. They both went into the shop and returned after a couple of minutes.
“They said they wanted to go back and I thought they were going back to Canons Grove.”
Mr Zubair said Mr Platt sat directly behind him and the woman sat directly behind the front passenger seat on the return journey. On the way back, he said the couple asked him to turn right instead of left, which would have taken them back to Canons Grove.
“This was a dead end, I thought they were getting out so I slowed down the vehicle. Then all of a sudden he just punched me,” Mr Zubair told jurors.
“He was sitting right behind me and it was a single blow, underneath my right eye. As soon as this happened I got out of the car whilst the car was still rolling.”
He said the couple had been talking to each other during the ride but he hadn’t heard what they said as the radio was on. He added that the woman tried to stop Mr Platt by ‘grabbing him’ and said: “Stop, stop, don’t hit”, immediately after he was attacked.
Mr Zubair said the woman ran off after the assault. He then realised the car was still moving and ran over to put it into park.
“He got out and he was shouting at me,” Mr Zubair continued.
“He said: “I’m going to knock you out”. I was confused, shocked. I didn’t know what was going on. He tried to come closer but I made enough distance from him.
“He was very aggressive. He tried to cover his face with his jacket and I could see something on his knuckle. He then used abusive language.”
It is alleged that Mr Platt said: “Look what you are wearing” and “P*** b*****d”. He then told Mr Zubair to ‘get back into your car’, the court heard.
The taxi driver immediately drove to Central Park police station where he reported the matter, and four to five days later received a call from a police officer who took an official statement, prosecutors allege.
Mr Zubair then went to hospital where he was treated for a small fracture to his right cheekbone, as well as an injury to his eyelid, it was said. He added that he had never seen Mr Platt or the woman before.
Mr Platt denies racially aggravated wounding.
Proceeding.
