Adelaide cabbie Amritpal Singh Gill has received a suspended sentence after he ran down a drunken customer who had refused to pay, breaking both his legs, reports.
Gill was on his job as a taxi driver on Friday, 18 May 2012 when the incident occurred at the back of another incident wherein the 28-year-old Indian-origin cabbie was racially abused. When after being racially abused by a previous passenger, Gill faced another customer, who claimed to have forgotten his wallet at home and refused to pay the fare.
The male victim along with his partner told Gill he had forgotten his wallet at home and refused to pay the fare.
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Gill then took them back to where he had picked them up from, the customer reportedly disputed the $40 fair claimed by Gill, then refusing to pay at all.
After the intoxicated male passenger began hitting the bonnet of the cab, Gill performed a three-point turn, hitting the victim in the process, and left. The victim remained in Royal Adelaide hospital for four weeks with both legs broken.
Gill’s counsel told the court that the customer was drunk and abusive. Royal Adelaide Hospital medical staff who treated the victim also confirmed that the customer had been intoxicated.
On Thursday, the District Court Judge sentenced Gill to one year and 10 months’ jail with a non-parole period of 10 months on charges of recklessly causing harm to another and failing to stop after an accident.
Judge Geraldine Davison said Gill “did nothing to avoid hitting him.” He also did not understand the extent of the victim’s injuries as he drove away without stopping.
Judge Davison suspended this sentence as she had been presented with numerous character references for Gill who after this incident, had stopped driving taxis and had completed his further education.
Judge Davison instead placed him on a two-year good-behaviour bond and ordered him to complete 100 hours of community service.
Gill’s drivers’ license has been suspended for two years.
