Man guilty of Solihull taxi driver murder
A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a taxi driver who was stabbed to death in Solihull last November.
Oliver Pugh aged 19, was convicted of the killing of Mohammed Istakhar.
Mr Istakhar, aged 44, was found with serious injuries on 29 November on Braggs Farm Road.
Sadly, nothing could be done to save him.
Hours before, he had picked up Pugh and another man, Luca De-Fazio, aged 18, in his taxi from Birmingham city centre.
Almost half an hour later they were captured on CCTV, chasing Mr Istakhar towards Lady Lane in Solihull.
Minutes later, CCTV showed the pair returning alone to Mr Istakhar’s taxi.
As it was driven away from the scene, CCTV captured an item, believed to be Mr Istakhar’s phone, being thrown from the car.
The taxi was captured pulling up outside Pugh’s house where both men got out and removed the taxi livery and number plates.
It was later driven to Malpit Close, where it was recovered by police for tests
De-Fazio handed himself in to police the following day and was arrested. He denied stabbing Mr Istakhar and suggested that it must have been Pugh.
When Mr Istakhar’s body was discovered, Pugh’s passport was found in his pocket.
A wanted appeal was issued for Pugh and following a number of leads from the public he was arrested hiding in a caravan in Derbyshire.
During interview, both denied any involvement in Mr. Istakhar’s death, suggesting that the other was to blame.
Today at Birmingham Crown Court a jury found Pugh guilty of murder and possession of a knife, and De-Fazio, aged 18, not guilty of murder. De-Fazio was jailed for one month after earlier admitting possession of the knife.
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood from the Homicide Team, said: “This was a horrific attack on a father who was out working that night to provide for his family.
“Earlier that evening, Pugh had also assaulted other men for no apparent reason. He was clearly intent on causing harm to others that night.
“Our thoughts remain with Mr Istakhar’s family and I hope this verdict can bring them some closure.”
Pugh will be sentenced for murder on 22 September.