Taxi Driver Online

I would think it's safe to assume these were passengers in the vehicle

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-65147990

A man was stabbed to death and a teenager was seriously injured when a taxi was attacked in Leeds.

Police were called to Hall Lane and Brentwood Terrace in Armley on Friday where the duo, who were in the vehicle, were attacked by three people.

The 18-year-old was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead, West Yorkshire Police said.

A 16-year-old boy is being treated for serious injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Det Ch Insp Lee Townley of West Yorkshire Police said a murder investigation had been launched following the "violent attack" at 17:30 BST.

"What we do know is that the two males were in a taxi at the time when they were attacked by three suspects in another vehicle," he said.

A police cordon has been erected on Hall Road and Brentwood Terrace.

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

I would assume the police will not struggle to find the bad people here.

Nightmare for the innocent cabby.

_________________
IDFIMH

not sure if it was a cabby or PH article was short on detail

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

Personally assumed Sussex was using the term cabby generically, particularly since what code the driver was working under didn't seem of much relevance.

If it's not clear, and if it's not really relevant, I would just say 'driver'.

Anyway, another press rehash that ends up a tad misleading. Check out the BBC's headline and strapline. Even without reading the article posted by Edders, you'd be forgiven for wondering whether the driver was the 'man' in both lines:


Leeds taxi stabbing: Man dies and boy, 16, badly injured

A man was stabbed to death and a teenager was seriously injured when a taxi was attacked in Leeds.

However, now look at the official police news release, on which the above article is presumably based. The t-word isn't even mentioned until quite far down, and by then most readers will have formed the opinion that it had nothing directly to do with the trade, and even when it's mentioned, it doesn't give the impression that the driver might be involved.

(On the other hand, strictly speaking the 18-year-old could have been a taxi driver, although obviously pretty unlikely. But you can't conclude with absolute certainty from the text below that the 18-year-old wasn't a driver, but obviously it reads like it's highly unlikely.)


Murder Investigation Launched After Stabbing, Leeds

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/new ... bing-leeds

Saturday 1 April 2023

A murder investigation has been launched after two males were stabbed on Hall Lane Brentwood Terrace in Armley, Leeds.

Officers were called at 5.29pm yesterday (31 March) by the ambulance service to reports two males had been seriously injured.

The 18-year-old male was taken to hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

Another male aged 16, was taken to hospital with serious but not believed to be life threatening injuries.

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating, and police cordons are in place on Hall Lane and Brentwood Terrace and the surrounding area will undergo forensic examination and specialist searches.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Lee Townley of the Homicide and Major enquiry Team said:

“Extensive enquiries are being carried out in relation to this murder investigation, our thoughts remain with the victim who has lost his life as a result of a violent attack on the streets of Leeds.

“We are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.

“What we do know is that the two males were in a taxi at the time when they were attacked by three suspects in another vehicle.

“I would appeal urgently to anyone who was in the area last night, who may have dash cam footage, or CCTV or mobile phone footage of anything suspicious to come forward.

“This incident will undoubtably cause concern in the community and we are working with our colleagues in the Neighbourhood Policing team to step up patrols and provide extra reassurance.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or use the live chat facility at http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/contactus quoting log 1331 of 31 March.

Information can always be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Other sources keep the t-word out of the headline, so don't convey things the way the BBC does. Eg Sky News:


Man, 18, stabbed to death and teenage boy seriously injured after 'violent attack' in Leeds

https://news.sky.com/story/man-18-stabb ... s-12846968

Police say the two males were in a taxi when they were attacked as officers hunt three suspects seen in another vehicle.



However, no uncertainly at all with the Mail Online's piece, which as far as I can tell was published either before or at about the same time as the stuff above.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... abbed.html

Knifemen stab taxi passenger, 18, to death and injure his 16-year-old friend in terrifying murder just days after 17-year-old was fatally stabbed nearby

Two men were riding in a taxi when three occupants in another vehicle attacked
18-year-old victim Jamie Meah passed away shortly after arriving at hospital
The other passenger, aged 16, was taken to hospital with serious injuries

Police release images of 4 men wanted in connection with Jamie Meah taxi murder in Leeds



Detectives are appealing for help to find four men wanted in connection with the murder of Jamie Meah.

While travelling in a taxi through Armley on Friday, March 31 this year just before 5.29pm, Jamie, 18 and another teenager, aged 16, were said to have been attacked with a knife near Hall Lane and Brentwood Terrace.

They were taken to hospital but Jamie was sadly pronounced dead a short time later. The other boy's injuries were not deemed to be life threatening. West Yorkshire Police launched a murder investigation and are now appealing for help to find four men.

Aquade Jeffers, Caleb Awe, Enham Nishat, all aged 20, and Ranei Wilks, aged 21, are all from Leeds and are wanted for murder in connection with the incident. West Yorkshire Police say the four are believed to have links to Leeds and the Merseyside and Greater Manchester areas.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Damian Roebuck, said: "Jamie's death was a tragedy in which a young man with his life ahead of him was needlessly cut short.

"We would like to speak to these four males who are wanted for his murder. These men are believed to have links to the Leeds, Liverpool and Greater Manchester areas and enquiries are being actively carried out in those areas. I would urge anyone who thinks they have seen any of these four males, or knows of their whereabouts to please contact us with those details."

Following Jamie's death, tributes flooded online on Leeds Live's Facebook page. Mandy Hazelgrave said: "RIP Jamie taken too soon." Kane Keith said: "What a world we live in! Didn't deserve this at all! Rest easy, Jamie.

Chloe Marie Timony said: "RIP Jamie, taken way too soon." Becky Massey said: "RIP Jamie love. It’s absolutely heartbreaking God bless you love thinking of your family x."

Jade Brown said: "Forever 18. Rest easy, JM." Shauna Eloise said: "Too many lives getting took!! [sic] RIP to the young man such a cruel world we live in."

_________________
IDFIMH

Beloved teen Jamie Meah 'dragged from taxi and stabbed to death in brutal and barbaric attack'

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... d-30720104



A beloved Leeds teenager was dragged from a taxi, stabbed and "murdered" by a rival drugs gang in a "vicious, brutal, barbaric and sustained attack", a court has heard.

Eighteen-year-old Jamie Meah was said to have been targeted by four men who then fled the country following the attack in Hall Lane, Armley, on March 31, 2023.

Ranei Wilks, 23, was arrested at Leeds Bradford Airport after getting off a flight from Antalya, Turkey, last year. Prosecutor Imran Shafi told Leeds Crown Court on Monday, January 6 that Aqade Jeffers, Caleb Awe and Enham Nishat, are still at large.

Mr Wilks, of no fixed abode, is currently standing trial accused of the murder of Mr Meah, the attempted murder of another man - Kayne Priestley - and two counts of possession of an article with a blade or point on March 31, 2023, and July 24, 2022.

In his opening to jurors on Monday, Mr Shafi said: "In summary, this case concerns the murder of a young man, Jamie Meah, who was 18-year's-old at the time of his death. The killing arises, we say, out of a dispute between groups dealing drugs in the Leeds area.

"We say the defendant was affiliated with one group and the deceased to a rival group. It appears both groups were actively engaged in dealing drugs. On the 31st March, the deceased and Kayne Priestley took a taxi to various locations. The final, fatal destination was in Hall Lane and it would appear the two of them were engaged in dealing drugs.

"At Hall Lane, Kayne Priestley got out and began to approach a customer and almost immediately recognised an individual in a Mercedes and ran back to the taxi, he felt for good reason."

The court heard three men exited the Mercedes, and "at least one of them - we say the defendant - was armed with a weapon."

An eyewitness described Mr Wilks as holding a "machete." The prosecution said this blade was different to the "zombie knife" he was found to be in possession of in July the year before.

Mr Shafi said: "Kane Priestley and Jamie Meah were dragged out of the taxi and subjected to a vicious, sustained, barbaric and brutal assault. Both men were seriously injured - Jamie Meah fatally. Shortly after he died from his injuries."

The court was told that Jamie managed to flee, as did a shirtless Mr Priestley, who sought help in a nearby fish and chip shop. It was said that Jamie was seen by a woman soon after and he told her he needed an ambulance, but when she returned he had gone. She later spotted blood and found him slumped against a fence.

Mr Shafi said a post-mortem examination carried out after his death found Jamie had suffered a wound to his right hip, one to his right thigh, which had severed an artery and caused a "catastrophic haemorrhage" that led to his death, a stab wound to his calf, a cut to his lower leg and a small abrasion to his neck.

He said the silver Mercedes was found abandoned in Bradford on April 5, 2023 and the defendant and Mr Jeffers, Mr Awe and Mr Nishat had fled to Liverpool and then onto Ireland.

The prosecutor said: "On 5th April, all four suspects were arrested for a relatively petty theft but were only detained for a short time. The Garda were unaware of the serious incident in Leeds and all were released. All four appeared to have fled further afield. The other three are still at large.

"The victim, Kayne Priestley, was spoken to a number of times but was not cooperative with the prosecution or investigation and has refused to provide a formal statement. Notwithstanding that, we say there is ample evidence from eyewitnesses, and medical evidence to convict Ranei Wilks of attempted murder.

"Ranei Wilks was arrested for murder, attempted murder and possession of a bladed article just after 6pm on 18th April last year, just a little over a year after the incident. He was arrested at Leeds Bradford Airport having just come off a flight from Antalya, Turkey."

The trial continues.

_________________
IDFIMH

The words drugs and gang appear in the article. As much as friends and family want to make him out to be a nice lad he clearly wasn't and suffered the fate of many involved in this lifestyle.

I hope they get a conviction but it looks like the taxi was being used for criminal activity whether the driver realised it or not and that in itself can have serious consequences.

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

Jamie Meah's taxi driver tells jury of 'bad day' man with 'sword' got into his vehicle - trial

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... s-30735068

A Leeds taxi driver booked by Jamie Meah has said he knew it was going to be a "bad day" when he saw a man get out of a car with a "sword" before the teenager was stabbed and killed.

The taxi driver has been called to give evidence during the trial of Ranei Wilks, 23, who is accused of murdering Jamie on March 31, 2023. He is also accused of attempting to murder Kayne Priestley and possessing an article with a blade or point on two occasions - March 31, 2023, and July 24, 2022.

On Monday, prosecutor Imran Shafi told Leeds Crown Court on Monday, January 6, that Aqade Jeffers, Caleb Awe and Enham Nishat, are still at large. He said the killing arose "out of a dispute between groups dealing drugs in the Leeds area" and that on the night of his death, Jamie along with Mr Priestley had used a taxi to go to various locations.

He said: "The final, fatal destination was in Hall Lane and it would appear the two of them were engaged in dealing drugs."

Jurors have previously heard Mr Priestley "got out and began to approach a customer and almost immediately recognised an individual in a Mercedes and ran back to the taxi, he felt for good reason."

Mr Shafi said three men exited the Mercedes, and "at least one of them - we say the defendant - was armed with a weapon".

Mr Meah's taxi driver was questioned by the prosecution and defence barrister Louise Blackwell KC on Wednesday. Ms Blackwell took him through the transcript of his recorded interview with police which took place on April 2, 2023. The driver said he believed the Mercedes was a silver BMW 320. He told officers the car had pulled up in front of his taxi in Hall Lane.

He said to officers a man got out of the car with a "sword". During his evidence on Wednesday, the taxi driver told the court he heard one of his passengers say: "Don't stab me, don't stab me."

He said "they got the other man" [his passenger] but did not see what happened to him. The driver then told jurors that the "BMW's" driver then reversed, allowing him to leave the scene.

He told Mr Shafi: "It was a very bad time when I saw the man with the machete and then I saw him get in my car, and I thought, 'It's not good. It's going to be a bad day.'

"That was a very bad feeling. I thought there was going to be a very big fight that day and when I saw the other guy come out with a big sword that was very bad."

When asked about how the other car was "bumper to bumper" with him before it reversed, he added: "I was stuck there. I couldn't move. It was a bit scary. I saw the guy with the sword and when he hit the car I couldn't imagine what was going on. I thought they were going to break my car. Then he opened the car door and started hitting the other guy. It was very bad."

The trial continues.

_________________
IDFIMH

Ranei Wilks jailed for killing Jamie Meah in bloodthirsty taxi ambush

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds ... e-30923442

Ranei Wilks has finally faced justice and has been jailed for killing beloved teenager Jamie Meah in a bloodthirsty taxi ambush.

Jamie, 18, was dragged from a taxi, stabbed and killed in Hall Lane by a rival drugs gang on March 31, 2023. Last month at Leeds Crown Court, Wilks, 23, was found guilty of manslaughter, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Jamie's friend Kayne Priestley, and two counts of having an article with a blade or point.

Wilks was acquitted of murder and attempted murder after jurors deliberated for 13 hours and 30 minutes. During the trial, which began on January 6, jurors heard how Jamie and Mr Priestley had been using a taxi to take them to deal drugs, and when they arrived in Hall Lane, they were ambushed and attacked.

On Monday, Wilks was jailed for 15 years. Prosecutor Imran Shafi KC told the court: "The events of 31st March 2023 are that Mr Meah and his friend Mr Priestley - the victim in relation to count two - took a taxi to various locations, the final location being Hall Lane, Armley.

"Clearly, the two of them were engaged in dealing drugs. Mr Priestley exited the taxi and began to approach a customer and almost immediately it appeared he recognised individuals in a Mercedes which was arriving in Hall Lane.

He then turned tail and ran back towards the taxi he and Mr Meah had been travelling in. That taxi was parked facing down to Hall Lane.

"Three men exited the vehicle and at least one of them was the defendant armed with a weapon."

The court heard both Mr Meah and Mr Priestley were "dragged out of the taxi and subjected to a vicious and sustained assault."

Mr Shafi said: "Mr Meah, it will appear, was stabbed while still in the back of the taxi. Both men as a result of this were very seriously injured."

Jurors had previously heard the attack was witnessed by a number of people, including the taxi driver of the vehicle Jamie and Mr Priestley were in. Jamie tragically lost his life following the stabbing. Three men - Aqade Jeffers, Caleb Awe and Enham Nishat - are still at large, having fled the country with Wilks through Liverpool to the Republic of Ireland and then further afield following the attack.

Wilks arrived at Leeds Bradford Airport on a flight from Turkey last April and has been in custody since.

Emotional victim impact statements were read to the court from Jamie's mum, dad, and nana. His partner Evie - who had found out she was pregnant two weeks before his death - bravely faced Wilks and told how his sick offending had affected her. She said she has since had a son and has suffered from post-natal depression as a result of not having Jamie with her.

She said: "While it was a wonderful time having my baby, it was a bittersweet moment. Being on a ward seeing other families when I only had a picture of Jamie. The feelings I feel knowing my son will never know or see his father is devastating. Never in a million years did I believe I would be a single parent."

Evie said Jamie was due to start on a Civil Engineering course in the September following his death.

The court heard Wilks was 21 at the time of Jamie's death and had no previous convictions at the time.

Louise Blackwell KC told the court: "May I, at the very start on behalf of him offer his heartfelt sorrow and understanding. He understands to a large extent the consequences of what happened that day because he has lost a family member and he has seen first hand how that affected his own mother.

"We submit that he was very much the passive party in the car. He found himself in a situation that he didn't have the skills to deal with. He is aware he has put himself at his and his family at large at risk. He did go with them [abroad] as far as the Republic of Ireland.

"Again, on his evidence he then left them as soon as he could when somebody came with money for him to go.

"It is, we submit, of real significance so far as he is concerned that it was he that chose to come back. He came back because he wanted the matter to be dealt with. He never denied being in the car, sitting in the seat behind the driver or leaving with them."

The court heard references from Wilks' mother and an extended family member had been handed to the court. Ms Blackwell said he has been making positive changes while in custody.

She added: "This is a young man with a lot that he has to try to do to put right what happened on 31st March 2023. I have spoken with him this morning and put it to him that this period - and it will be a long period - of time in custody is effectively his proper growing up years."

As he jailed Wilks for 15 years, Recorder of Leeds, His Honour Judge Guy Kearl KC said: "Jamie Meah was only 18-years-old at the time that he was killed and he was a young, healthy man, with a bright future. He was not perfect, but kind, caring, loving and loved.

"He is someone else whose life has been taken by a person wielding a large and lethal knife who used it to cause his death. He is irreplaceable to those he loved and who loved him...

"This was an attack of all of those in the vehicle on rival drug dealers as a message of others not to do so on what was regarded as their terf. You were a part of that team, knowing what was going on, knowing Caleb Awe was in possession of a potential lethal weapon which was being carried in case it needed to be used."

Wilks was told he will have to serve around two-thirds of his sentence in prison before being released on licence.

_________________
IDFIMH