Taxi Driver Online

Daily Post (Liverpool)

July 1, 2006, Saturday

HEADLINE: Taxi driver cleared of killing

A TAXI driver has been cleared of killing a man who hung onto his car. Off-duty private hire driver Ian Wakefield, 42, was unanimously acquitted by a Liverpool crown court jury of the manslaughter of Thomas Palombella.

During his trial the court heard that Mr Wakefield had gone out for a drive in the early hours of December 1 last year. Mr Wakefield told the court he was driving along Walton Lane, Walton, and decided to turn his car round in Salop Street.

He denied attempting to pick up a fare while not on duty and said Mr Palombella, who was 24, appeared at the side of his car. He said he thought he was going to be attacked and continued driving.

The court heard Mr Palombella, from Bootle, was almost three times over the alcohol limit to drive. Mr Palombella held onto the roof rails of the Ford Escort and was carried along by the car before falling.

As he fell onto the road another car, a Toyota Previa, drove over him by accident. Mr Palombella, who was from Bootle, suffered head and crushing injuries. He was taken to hospital, but died a few hours later.

Mr Wakefield, of Teynham Crescent, Norris Green, had denied the charge.

Following the not guilty verdict, the court heard the taxi driver is charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident and these will be dealt with by the magistrates' court at a later date.

Mr Wakefield was also cleared of causing death by dangerous driving when no evidence was offered.

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