Taxi Driver Online

From Courier's court round-up, 25 January 2023

I don't believe either side here

And while the opening paragraph makes it sound like something really bad, in reality the rest of the story suggests it maybe wasn't as serious as that.

But the sheriff obviously unimpressed. However, it's a not proven verdict rather than not guilty, so although it's an acquittal, it kind of leaves a question mark.

And, to that extent, it might not work in his favour if his badge is in question. As regards keeping his badge, a not guilty verdict would obviously be better than the not proven the sheriff returned



Taxi terror

Taxi driver Mohammed Chowdhury has been cleared of repeatedly running over a man’s leg after dropping him and his wife off at their Fife home.

He went on trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court accused of driving carelessly over James Thomson at Lady Anne Court, Crossgates, on Christmas Day 2021.

Mr Thomson’s wife, Helen, told the trial the couple had arrived home shortly before midnight.

She left the car on the pavement side and after looking in her bag for keys, went to the other side and found her husband unconscious and lying face down with his right calf trapped under the back wheel.

Mrs Thomson, 59, said she screamed and shouted to the driver, who came out but was unable to free her husband’s leg.

She claimed Chowdhury then drove forward, causing the tyre to move up to her husband’s thigh, then reversed.

A neighbour told the trial she heard screams and went to her window to see the taxi move twice – once forward and once back – but she could not recall in which order.

Mr Thomson, 58, said he recalled paying the fare and then being on the ground, with the taxi reversing off his leg.

He said he had drunk a bottle of wine and two vodkas but his last drink was about three hours before and did not know how he came to be under the taxi.

He was taken to hospital and said his leg was “fine” but he had a “gouge” at the back of his head.

Chowdhury, 38, of Kinross High Street, said the couple left the taxi so, with the handbrake on, he checked his display for the next fare and prepared his sat nav.

He insisted he had not driven the car after parking it but was unable to explain how the accident happened.

He maintained he did not drive the taxi forward – only reversed it – for fear of crushing Mr Thomson’s head and body.

Sheriff Charles Lugton found the prosecution case not proven and acquitted Chowdhury.

If someone drives over your leg a couple of times you will have serious damage to it.

Looks like a claim-led situation to me.

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IDFIMH