Cab driver's jail term increased

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6209844.stm

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A cab driver jailed for manslaughter over the death of a teenager, whose body was dragged underneath his cab, has had his sentence increased.

Judges at the Court of Appeal increased Ghulam Hussain's three year sentence for manslaughter to five years.

Hussain, from West Bromwich, admitted the manslaughter of 17-year-old Scott Poll and was jailed in September.

Lord Justice Keene said the 44-year-old driver had put his own "fear and panic" ahead of Mr Poll's life.

His parents had led a campaign to increase Hussain's sentence.

Drove away

The judge accepted Hussain, of Grange Road, West Bromwich, panicked when confronted by Mr Poll in Hollyhedge Road during the early hours of 26 February.

The court was told Mr Poll had tried to flag down the cab and stood in front of the vehicle with his hands on the bonnet.

The judge accepted Hussain had not deliberately run him over.

But Mr Poll fell beneath the taxi and Hussain accelerated away as Mr Poll's friends shouted at him to stop.

Mr Poll's screams were so loud they were said to have woken nearby householders.

Hussain drove for more than a mile before Mr Poll's body came away from the car at a roundabout.

The appeal court heard Hussain did not stop to help but instead drove away and the next day had his car cleaned to conceal what had happened.

He eventually gave himself up but continued to claim he did not know Mr Poll was under his car. Shortly before his trial he admitted manslaughter.

The judge said Hussain should have been given six years but, taking into account that Hussain was being sentenced for a second time, his new term was put at five years.