An Uber driver deliberately ran over a customer who had just been sick in the back seat of his car, a murder trial heard today.
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trial → run → car
Hayadulla Turkmani, 52, murdered Michael Ashton, 28, after dropping him off outside his home last year in Basildon, Essex, just before midnight, jurors were told.
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jurors → murder → midnight
The council worker and his partner went inside to get cleaning wipes, which they then used to clean up the 'small amount' of sick, Basildon Crown Court heard.
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Court → go → sick
But Turkmani, who was being aided in the dock by an Afghan Dari interpreter, continued yelling abuse and ran Mr Ashton over out of 'sheer anger and rage'.
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who → aid → anger
Despite the victim's desperate pleas for him to stop, the force snapped Mr Ashton's leg and sent him toppling backwards, headfirst into the pavement.
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force → stop → pavement
As Mr Ashton fell onto the pavement, the back of his skull fractured and his brain was propelled forwards, fracturing the front of his skull too, causing a fatal brain injury, jurors heard.
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jurors → fall → injury
Turkmani, of Hornchurch, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, manslaughter and causing death by dangerous driving, then attempted to drive off, dragging Mr Ashton's body underneath his car, the prosecution alleged.
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prosecution → plead → car
A neighbour had witnessed the horrific event and Mr Ashton was rushed to hospital in Whitechapel, London after police were called to the scene.
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police → witness → scene
The victim died days later on October 4 with a severe brain injury.
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victim → die → injury
Hayadulla Turkmani, 52, has been charged with murdering Michael Ashton (pictured), 28, after dropping him off outside his home last year in Basildon, Essex
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Turkmani → charge → Basildon
Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said: 'The prosecution case is that he had done that in sheer anger and rage, choosing to use his car as a weapon and intentionally aiming it at Mr Ashton, driving it forwards and into him.'
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he → say → him
Mr Ashton made 'repeated and desperate shouts for him to stop', Mr Jackson alleged, but Turkmani 'chooses to continue driving forward'.
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Turkmani → make → shouts
CCTV audio of Mr Ashton's final words were played which left the jury in tears, where he said 'Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!'
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he → play → tears
When police arrived at the scene, Turkmani said the victim ran in front of his car, but he later answered 'no comment; in interview, the jury was told.
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jury → arrive → interview
The prosecution argued Turkmani intended the consequences to his victim.
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Turkmani → argue → victim
The Uber driver has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, manslaughter and causing death by dangerous driving.
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driver → plead → driving
Mr Jackson said the couple had spent 'an enjoyable evening out' in Havering, having dinner with Mr Ashton's sister before visiting a few bars.
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couple → say → bars
At around 11pm, the couple requested an Uber from Frankie's Wine Bar in Hornchurch, to take them home to Basildon.
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couple → request → Basildon
It was 'an uneventful journey', said Mr Jackson, until Mr Ashton became nauseous as they pulled off towards Langdon Hills.
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they → say → Hills
The prosecutor said: 'He tried to open the rear window of the taxi but nausea overcame him.
'
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nausea → say → him
He immediately apologised to the defendant.
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He → apologise → defendant
'A passenger being ill in the back of a taxi is undoubtedly annoying for the driver of the taxi but the defendant, you will hear, was a good deal more than annoyed at the inconvenience.
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you → hear → inconvenience
You will hear that at that point, he became immediately angry and he began shouting at Mr Ashton for the remainder of that journey.'
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he → hear → journey
Mr Jackson added: 'As Mr Ashton lay fatally injured beneath the defendant's Uber, the defendant got out of the taxi.
'
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defendant → add → taxi
He looked beneath the car.
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He → look → car
He must have seen Mr Ashton's body.
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He → see → body
He then got back into his car.
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He → get → car
He then accelerated forwards, needless to say, causing the body of Mr Ashton to be dragged underneath.'
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body → accelerate → Ashton
A tribute issued by police said: 'He was dearly loved by his family, his girlfriend, and the endless list of friends he had.
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he → issue → friends
Michael had the most beautiful aura and lit up every room he entered with his handsome looks, his smile, and his warm personality.
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he → have → looks
'He was loved by everyone and had such a kind soul — he didn't have a bad bone in his body.'
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he → love → body
The trial is expected to last three weeks.
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trial → expect → ?
The Aporia
