Taxi Driver Online

The Star (Sheffield)

March 28, 2008

'Cabbie killing was crazy'

A FATHER-of-two accused of murdering a Sheffield taxi driver told jurors another man had been blamed for the killing.

David Cohen, aged 28, denies any involvement in the death of 53-year-old Younis Khan, who was gunned down as he drove his cab along Scott Road, Pitsmoor, last March.

He told Sheffield Crown Court he first learned of the shooting when he walked past a city centre news stand the next day, but later heard from pals in the Upperthorpe Cafe, run by his family, that another man was responsible.

He said the culprit had been named as Barrington Broom-field and claimed friends told him he had opened fire following trouble including a fight at Banus nightclub in Sheffield city centre, which jurors had previously heard involved Mr Khan's son Imran.

Cohen said he was told by a pal "Baz and that done this" and described feeling "physically sick" at the revelation, branding it "crazy".

He said he was worried for his safety because his house had already been shot at following the incident at Banus, which had involved his younger brother Matthew.

Cohen, of Philadelphia Gardens, Upperthorpe, said the night before he was arrested, his solicitor rang to warn him to expect a visit from the police and said he could have fled if he was responsible for the shooting.

He told the court: "It's evil what happened. All I can do is come here and tell the truth. I know what it's like to lose someone."

Cohen said he had "nothing to do" with the disposal of a car used by the killer.

Owen Davies, opening Cohen's 25-year-old brother Ashley Cohen's defence case, said the case against his client was "pitifully weak". He said the prosecution case was "a theory, based upon a series of assumptions, founded on speculation, and reliant on supposition and conjecture".

David Cohen, his brother Ashley of Clough Wood View, Oughtibridge, and pal Ramzan Mirza, 27, of Staniforth Road, Darnall, all deny murder.

Ashley Cohen and David Ashmore, 45, of Dykewood Drive, Wadsley, deny perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.
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The Star (Sheffield)

March 26, 2008

Pair cleared in death case

TWO men standing trial in connection to the death of murdered Sheffield taxi driver Younis Khan have been found not guilty of perverting the course of justice.

David Ashmore, aged 45, and Ashley Cohen, 25, were found not guilty of the charge which relates to the disposal of a BMW car. Jurors returned the not guilty verdicts under the instruction of the trial judge.

Dad-of-five Mr Khan was shot dead on Scott Road, Pitsmoor, in March 2006.

Ashley Cohen, of Clough Wood View, Oughtibridge, his brother David Cohen, 28, of Philadelphia Gardens, Upper-thorpe, and Ramzan Mirza, 27, of Staniforth Road, Darnall, all deny murder.
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