Taxi Driver Online

Wakefield Express

March 9, 2008

'Steph' taxi driver's fresh licence bid

THE taxi driver who failed to stop after running over Stephanie Hammill has launched another bid to get his cab licence back.

Stephanie, 20, of Lincoln Street, died after jumping, or falling, from her kidnapper and killer's car into the path of Mohammed Ashiq's taxi, which was coming the other way.

She was abducted on Balne Lane more than four years ago by Ioannis Revenikiotis.

She thought she was flagging down a taxi after a night out with fiance James Garland. But Revenikiotis's Mercedes sped off, with her leg dangling from it, before Mr Garland could get in. She was found dead minutes later in Batley Road, Alverthorpe.

Mr Ashiq, 54, of Conway Road, Wakefield, had his Hackney carriage licence revoked in February 2006 following his actions at the accident scene in November 2003. He not only failed to stop, but was also driving with defective tyres.

Since then he has made a number of attempts to reclaim his licence but has been rebuffed by Wakefield Council and by city magistrates. Mr Ashiq claimed he did not know he had run over a body.

The prosecution at Revenikiotis's trial, held at Leeds Crown Court, said Mr Ashiq could not have avoided Miss Hammill as she lay in the middle of the road. Revenikiotis, 29, was jailed for 11 years last October for manslaughter and kidnap.

Mr Ashiq said then he would like to resume his old career as a taxi driver.

As the Express exclusively revealed last week, Revenikiotis was sent back to Greece to complete his sentence. And on Monday - just days after Revenikiotis's extradition - Mr Ashiq launched his latest appeal bid.

He was at Wakefield Magistrates' Court to challenge the council's refusal to grant him a private hire licence. Mr Ashiq told the court he had applied once before to Wakefield magistrates but this was a fresh application.

He represented himself at the preliminary hearing but is expected to make an application for legal aid so he can be represented at the appeal hearing.

Magistrate John Sudworth set the appeal down for June 20.
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Stephanie Hammill taxi driver loses licence appeal

THE taxi driver who ran over Stephanie Hammill will not be allowed back behind the wheel of his cab after losing his appeal to get his licence back. Mohammed Ashiq, 57, said he did not stop after hitting Miss Hammill fearing he would be murdered as part of an ambush attempt to steal his takings, Wakefield magistrates heard. Mr Ashiq, of Conway Road, lost his latest appeal to get his Hackney carriage licence back from Wakefield Council.

Miss Hammill, 20, of Lincoln Street, was kidnapped and killed by sexual predator Ioannis Revenikiotis on November 29, 2003.She had got into his car thinking it was a taxi as she walked home along Balne Lane with her fiance James Garland. Miss Hammill tried to escape from her abductor and jumped or fell into the path of Mr Ashiq's taxi which was coming the other way along Batley Road.

Mr Ashiq was later found guilty of failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and admitted having two defective tyres. Yesterday Mr Ashiq told the court, he would have stopped if he knew he had hit Miss Hammill.

After the hearing, Miss Hammill's parents Jane and Brian and Mr Garland said they were pleased with the court's decision. They said: "We do not think this will be the end. We thought it would be over last year. We think he will appeal again."

Mr Ashiq's Hackney carriage licence was revoked in February 2006 by Wakefield Council. In March the council refused to renew his licence and Mr Ashiq appealed against its decision.

Revenikiotis, 29, fled to Greece but was brought back by detectives to face justice. He was jailed for 11 years and extradited earlier this year.

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IDFIMH

amazing police work to find the merc in a greek scrapyard, bring it back and then find a fingerprint

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west ... 338790.stm