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09/05/2012
Court Hears How Taxi Driver Beat And Robbed Passenger
Ennis Circuit Court heard yesterday how, in a dispute over a €15 fare, a taxi driver robbed a passenger and broke his collarbone using a sweeping brush and toy.
Passenger Michael L'Estrange told the court in Co Clare yesterday how the taxi driver assaulted him and robbed him of €70 after they argued over the fare.
Taxi driver Okechukwu Utuke (44), of Dun na hInse, Ennis, denies the charge of assault causing harm and the robbery of Mr L'Estrange on April 25, 2010.
Mr L'Estrange said he had been out in Ennis with friends and had drunk four to five pints.
Recounting the night to the court he told how he was walking home when he hailed down a taxi on the Tulla Road to bring him home to the Gort na mBlath housing estate, a fare he said was normally €7.50.
When Mr Utuke then demanded €15 he said he refused: "I told him 'no'."
"I wasn't paying that and I threw €10 down on the front passenger seat and got out of the car.” Mr L’Estrange told the court.
"The next thing the taxi driver jumped on top of me, had me down on the ground and kept digging into me with his fists. I was asking him to 'leave me alone'. I couldn't get up, I was winded."
Mr L'Estrange said the taxi driver then hit him with an implement, although he couldn't say what it was, then reached into the pocket of his jeans and took €70 and left.
Counsel for Mr Utuke, Lorcan Connolly BL, said that Mr Utuke had paid two visits to the Gort na Mblath housing estate on the night and in one case a passenger ran off without paying the fare.
Mr Connolly told Mr L'Estrange: "Mr Utuke doesn't know anything about events that you allege about a physical altercation and robbery."
The case continues.
(H)
Passenger Michael L'Estrange told the court in Co Clare yesterday how the taxi driver assaulted him and robbed him of €70 after they argued over the fare.
Taxi driver Okechukwu Utuke (44), of Dun na hInse, Ennis, denies the charge of assault causing harm and the robbery of Mr L'Estrange on April 25, 2010.
Mr L'Estrange said he had been out in Ennis with friends and had drunk four to five pints.
Recounting the night to the court he told how he was walking home when he hailed down a taxi on the Tulla Road to bring him home to the Gort na mBlath housing estate, a fare he said was normally €7.50.
When Mr Utuke then demanded €15 he said he refused: "I told him 'no'."
"I wasn't paying that and I threw €10 down on the front passenger seat and got out of the car.” Mr L’Estrange told the court.
"The next thing the taxi driver jumped on top of me, had me down on the ground and kept digging into me with his fists. I was asking him to 'leave me alone'. I couldn't get up, I was winded."
Mr L'Estrange said the taxi driver then hit him with an implement, although he couldn't say what it was, then reached into the pocket of his jeans and took €70 and left.
Counsel for Mr Utuke, Lorcan Connolly BL, said that Mr Utuke had paid two visits to the Gort na Mblath housing estate on the night and in one case a passenger ran off without paying the fare.
Mr Connolly told Mr L'Estrange: "Mr Utuke doesn't know anything about events that you allege about a physical altercation and robbery."
The case continues.
(H)
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