Taxi Driver Online

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.

a contradiction in terms surely ? you don't throw punches unless you want to hurt someone

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The charge, I'm guessing, is that his actions caused the harm, but he didn't mean to do so much damage.

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IDFIMH

Didn't see this one, er, coming


David Platt accused of punching taxi driver in racially motivated attack tells court he saw him masturbating

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... i-25187928

David Platt, 30, denied racially aggravated assault

A man accused of punching a taxi driver in a racially motivated attack has told a court it was because he 'saw him masturbating'. David Platt, 30, has admitted wounding, but denied racially aggravated assault.

Manchester Crown Court previously heard that taxi driver Mohammed Zubair, picked up Mr Platt and a woman on May 3 this year and took them to a convenience shop on Rochdale Road, Harpurhey.

They returned after a few minutes and directed him to take them back to Canons Grove, but asked him to turn right instead of left, leading him to a ‘dead end street’, prosecutors allege.

Mr Platt then punched Mr Zubair once to the face causing him numerous injuries including a fractured cheekbone. Prosecutors allege that after getting out of the taxi, Mr Platt said to Mr Zubair, who was wearing traditional Pakistani clothing: “Look what you are wearing. P*** b******”.

Mr Platt denies making the racially abusive comments.

On day two of the trial, Mr Platt took to the witness stand and gave evidence. He initially admitted that he lied in his police interview, where he told officers he was not responsible for the assault.

Asked why, by his barrister Timothy Ashmole, he said: “I wanted to go back home, back to my family, I was just p****d off, I wanted to get myself home.” He admitted that he later pleaded guilty to the assault at a previous court hearing.

Mr Platt told jurors that on May 3 he got a taxi from near his home address to the shop on Rochdale Road to ‘buy some balloons’. He later clarified this was ‘nitrous oxide canisters’. He said his girlfriend had called for the taxi and their intention was to go to the shop and go back home.

Mr Platt said that he had forgotten an item to use as part of the nitrous oxide and so had to take a detour to his friend’s house. He admitted he had drunk a few beers before the journey.

After going into the shop, he said he got back into the taxi with his girlfriend before they directed the taxi driver back by indicating ‘left’ or ‘right’.

Describing what happened on arrival at the dead end street off Pitsford Road, he said: “I saw my girlfriend look between the gap in the driver’s seat and passenger seat and she gave me a look.

“I couldn’t see so I grabbed the headrest and looked round and saw my man trying to hide something.

“I thought ‘that’s wrong’ and I saw him do it again. I saw him try and put his thing away. Then I just hit him with that one hand.”

Mr Platt told jurors that he saw Mr Zubair ‘touching himself’, and struck him. He said he hit him once to the right eye.

He added that Mr Zubair got out of the car, shortly before his girlfriend ran off. Mr Platt said he then got out the car and called Mr Zubair a ‘scruffy c***’.

In cross examination, Mr Platt admitted that he originally ordered a taxi to go into Manchester city centre as it would arrive at Canons Grove quicker than if he were to book a shorter journey.

Jurors heard that Mr Platt had a number of previous convictions for theft, burglary and dishonesty offences. When asked by prosecutor Hunter Gray if he was a dishonest person due to his previous convictions, he said: “If I have done something wrong, I admit it.”

He was asked by the prosecutor if he challenged Mr Zubair about what he alleged happened inside the taxi. He said: “I don’t have to say anything, see what he’s done, just assault him.”

Mr Platt added: “I’m not taking any punishment for something I haven’t done. I ain’t no racist.”

Mr Platt, of Canons Grove, Monsall, denies racially aggravated assault.

Proceeding.

this to me sounds like a concocted story designed to try and get him out of trouble but if it backfires he'll reap the whirlwind

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I suspect the jury will take all the evidence on board, they will consider it carefully, and then return with the verdict we all think.

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IDFIMH

David Platt GUILTY of punching taxi driver in the face in racially motivated attack



A man has been found guilty of brutally punching a taxi driver in an unprovoked, racist attack. In May this year, 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 to Canons Grove, but gave the driver different instructions, leading him to a ‘dead end’ street.

The driver then felt a punch to the right side of his face, before he ran out of the car in shock whilst it was still rolling. The woman ran away, whilst Platt, of Canons Grove, Monsall, shouted at the taxi driver: “I’m going to knock you out.”

He then motioned to the driver about his traditional Pakistani clothing and said: “Look what you are wearing, P*** b*****d”.

Platt admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent but denied racially aggravated wounding. A jury has since found him guilty following a trial.

Giving evidence, Mohammed Zubair, a taxi driver for Cresta Cars, said he picked up Platt and a woman from near his home after having to beep his horn when they were running late. He said he was wearing ‘traditional Pakistani clothes’ including a long robe as it was the second day of Eid and he was going to celebrate with his family.

“They (the couple) 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 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 the court.

“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.”

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.”

Platt then said: “Look what you are wearing” and “P*** b*****d”. He then told Mr Zubair to ‘get back into your car’.

Asked how he felt by the comments, Mr Zubair said: “I was feeling confused and shocked. I did not expect that. This was completely shocking to me."

He added that having to tell the police what Platt said to him left him feeling ‘ashamed’.

After reporting matters to the police, 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.

In his police interview Platt denied the assault, stating: “I just don’t go around banging taxi drivers for no reason. It doesn’t make sense. He has been banged or robbed by one of the young ones.”

Platt later admitted the assault, but claimed in the witness box it was because he had ‘seen the taxi driver masturbating’. He admitted he had ‘lied’ in his police interview, saying that he just ‘wanted to go home’.

He told jurors that he saw Mr Zubair ‘touching himself’ and struck him with one hand. He said he then got out of the car and called him a ‘scruffy c***’.

In cross examination, he was asked by prosecutor Hunter Gray if he challenged Mr Zubair about what he alleged happened inside the taxi. He said: “I don’t have to say anything, see what he’s done, just assault him.”

But jurors denounced his claims, and found him guilty of racially aggravated assault after one hour and 54 minutes of deliberations.

Platt, of Canons Grove, has now been jailed for 20 months.

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IDFIMH

And I suspect that included an hour for lunch.

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IDFIMH