Mohammed Istakhar Obituary News: Taxi Driver Murdered by Two Teen in Country Lane after City Centre Night Out
After a night out in Birmingham’s city center, two youngsters “murdered” a cab driver and left him for dead in a Solihull country lane, a court heard. Around 6.30 am on November 29 of last year, Mohammed Istakhar was discovered face down in Braggs Farm Lane near Earslwood and Dickens Heath.
The 46-year-old was found by two men on their way to work when they noticed a trail of blood in the road and realized that he had been tragically stabbed. When the paramedics arrived, he was legally declared dead.
A jury was informed that Mr. Istakhar had the “misfortune” of driving Luca DeFazio and Oliver Pugh home. According to the allegations, the two youths planned to lure him to a “remote spot” under the pretense of collecting money for the trip before coming back with knives.
As they were leaving Dixy Chicken, a witness who had previously seen them at Rosies nightclub remembered Pugh asking her if she was a “snitch” before declaring his intention to “rob a taxi.”
In their trial at Birmingham Crown Court, De-Fazio, 18, of no fixed abode, and Pugh, 19, of New Meadow Close, Solihull, both deny the charge of murder. Pugh has also entered a not guilty plea to the charge of having a bladed object.
Monday, when Mr. Heywood presented the evidence, he stated that two men were traveling to work along Solihull’s Braggs Farm Lane on November 29 at around 6.30 a.m.
“Braggs Farm Lane is unlit,” he remarked, adding that it was still quite dark. They unexpectedly came across a man’s body. He was on the pavement, face down. They came over to see what might be done after stopping their automobile.
“At first, they didn’t detect any evident wounds, but upon closer inspection, they discovered blood around the man’s feet and on the road. This man’s appearance after his clothing was removed suggested that he had been stabbed. They made an emergency call.
“They tried everything they could to revive him, but there was nothing they could do. When the paramedics arrived, they formally declared the end of life.
Mohammed Istakhar’s body was found, Mr. Heywood continued. When he passed away, he was 46 years old. His misfortune was to have transported these two defendants, Luca De-Fazio and Oliver Pugh, back to Birmingham after they had spent the evening out in the city center when he was working as a taxi driver.
The prosecution claims that these defendants planned to drive the cab to a remote location so they could travel to a caravan under the guise of collecting payment for the fee. They would return with knives while Mr. Istakhar waited, and at least one of those blades was used to attack him.
“Despite his best efforts to defend himself, he got stabbed in the heart with it. He was left bleeding to death, if not already dead, and they stole his car keys before leaving in his cab.
Mr. Heywood described the events to the jury, stating that the defendants were seen on surveillance at Rosies club on Broad Street at 12.32am chatting to a female witness. “She was sitting with her friends at a table away from the two men, but Oliver Pugh kept coming over to chat,” he continued. Together, they left the club and went to Dixy Chicken.
Oliver Pugh questioned her about being a’snitch’ before they parted ways. He said, “I’m going to rob a taxi.” She laughed it off because she thought he wasn’t serious.