29 Feb 2008
Death incident taxi driver fined
A TAXI driver has been convicted of dangerous driving involving an
incident in which a passenger jumped from his cab and died.
Avtar Mander was originally charged with causing death by dangerous
driving but that charge was dismissed by a judge before it came to trial.
However today (Friday) he stood trial at Luton Crown Court on the charge
of dangerous driving before a jury who were never told the full tragic
consequences of the night's events.
Judge Stanley Spence said Mander was not responsible for the death of
20-year-old Oliver Livings, from Vicarage Close, Langford, but said: "As a
taxi driver there is a higher duty of care to your passengers which you ignored."
Mander, 40, of Newlands, Letchworth GC, who had been a taxi driver for
14 years, was fined £500 and banned from driving for a year. He must
also pay £2,500 costs.
Prosecutor Maurice Aston told the jury that in the early hours of August 5,
2006 five young men hired a cab after a night out in Hitchin to take them
home to Langford. They negotiated a price of £30 with Mander.
He stopped at a social club in Church Street, Langford, where they wanted
to be dropped off, but after three got out he had the impression he was
not going to be paid and decided to drive the remaining two to
Biggleswade police station.
The seven-seater taxi had sliding doors and he drove off with the door in
the open locked position. He called police en route and the tape of the call
was played to the jury.
Mr Livings could be heard remonstrating with the driver.
The other remaining passenger, Elliott Owen, said he had not been aware
of any intention not to pay the fare, although he had no money on him at
the time.
"Oliver was telling the driver to calm down and that we would give him his
money but then he jumped from the taxi. The taxi went faster. My initial
reaction was shock. The driver did not say anything."
But he said the driver did calm down and pulled up a little further on when
the door was closed.
Mander claimed he was acting under duress.
Geoffrey Birch, defending, said: "He was faced with an unexpected
situation and in the heat of the moment made the decision to drive to the
police station. He was putting the matter in the hands of the law and doing
the right thing. However things then went very wrong.
"He either drove without checking the door was secure or without giving
any thought to that matter.
Source: Herts 24
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