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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Taxi driver murderer given life | Taxi driver murderer given life |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man who killed a Kent taxi driver by mowing him down with his own vehicle has been sentenced to life in prison. | A man who killed a Kent taxi driver by mowing him down with his own vehicle has been sentenced to life in prison. |
| A Maidstone Crown Court jury found Luke Aujila, 21, of Dorchester Road, Gravesend, guilty of murdering Gian Chand Bajar. | A Maidstone Crown Court jury found Luke Aujila, 21, of Dorchester Road, Gravesend, guilty of murdering Gian Chand Bajar. |
| Judge Andrew Patience sentenced him to life and ordered he serve a minimum of 20 years for killing the 71-year-old in Gravesend on 27 May, 2007. | Judge Andrew Patience sentenced him to life and ordered he serve a minimum of 20 years for killing the 71-year-old in Gravesend on 27 May, 2007. |
| As he sentenced Aujila, he described what he had done as "utterly wicked". | As he sentenced Aujila, he described what he had done as "utterly wicked". |
| Aujila had admitted manslaughter but denied murder claiming he was so drunk he did not see Mr Bajar in the road. | Aujila had admitted manslaughter but denied murder claiming he was so drunk he did not see Mr Bajar in the road. |
| But Judge Patience said Aujila had never intended to pay for his cab journey and had deliberately punched Mr Bajar before kicking him as he lay on the ground and then driving over him | |
| He said: "What you did was cold, callous and cruel. In short it was utterly wicked." | He said: "What you did was cold, callous and cruel. In short it was utterly wicked." |
| I think we are satisfied that justice has been served Mr Bajar's son, Telu | |
| Sentencing Aujila, Judge Patience said he would take into account his youth and immaturity but added that Mr Bajar's age and vulnerability meant the sentence reflected the gravity of the "terrible case". | Sentencing Aujila, Judge Patience said he would take into account his youth and immaturity but added that Mr Bajar's age and vulnerability meant the sentence reflected the gravity of the "terrible case". |
| He said Aujila would be in prison for 18 years and 363 days as he had spent just over a year in custody on remand. | He said Aujila would be in prison for 18 years and 363 days as he had spent just over a year in custody on remand. |
| Aujila, who had 12 previous convictions, including assaulting a number of police officers and attempted theft of a vehicle, showed no emotion as the sentence was passed. | Aujila, who had 12 previous convictions, including assaulting a number of police officers and attempted theft of a vehicle, showed no emotion as the sentence was passed. |
| Judge Patience said Mr Bajar was a "gentle, mild-mannered man" who would always avoid conflict and in his family's victim impact statement, read out in court, he was described as a good Samaritan. | Judge Patience said Mr Bajar was a "gentle, mild-mannered man" who would always avoid conflict and in his family's victim impact statement, read out in court, he was described as a good Samaritan. |
| Outside court Mr Bajar's son, Telu, said: "I think we are satisifed that justice has been served." | |
| Gian Chand Bajar died in hospital from his injuries | Gian Chand Bajar died in hospital from his injuries |
| During the three-week trial, the court had heard that on the night of the attack Aujila's behaviour had become aggressive after he drank a bottle of Bacardi stolen from a shop. | During the three-week trial, the court had heard that on the night of the attack Aujila's behaviour had become aggressive after he drank a bottle of Bacardi stolen from a shop. |
| Mr Bajar picked him up in Tooley Street, Gravesend at about 2200 BST. | Mr Bajar picked him up in Tooley Street, Gravesend at about 2200 BST. |
| He drove to St Benedict's Avenue where a row broke out about the cab fare. | He drove to St Benedict's Avenue where a row broke out about the cab fare. |
| The court was told that after Aujila climbed behind the wheel of Mr Bajar's Skoda Octavia he made no effort to slow down or avoid the father-of five as he lay hurt in the road. | The court was told that after Aujila climbed behind the wheel of Mr Bajar's Skoda Octavia he made no effort to slow down or avoid the father-of five as he lay hurt in the road. |
| The car was later found abandoned and burnt out in a nearby service road and blood was also found on Aujila's trainers and tracksuit bottoms. | The car was later found abandoned and burnt out in a nearby service road and blood was also found on Aujila's trainers and tracksuit bottoms. |
| A broken Bacardi bottle covered with his fingerprints was found at the scene. | A broken Bacardi bottle covered with his fingerprints was found at the scene. |
| Neighbours in the street had tried to save Mr Bajar, who was described as a respected member of the Sikh community, but he died later that night in hospital from severe head injuries. | Neighbours in the street had tried to save Mr Bajar, who was described as a respected member of the Sikh community, but he died later that night in hospital from severe head injuries. |
| A pathologist at the trial said he had 39 separate sites of injury including fractures to his pelvis and ribs and a broken leg and hip. | A pathologist at the trial said he had 39 separate sites of injury including fractures to his pelvis and ribs and a broken leg and hip. |