Vic: Man jailed for 17-and-a-half years over cabbie murder

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2008
Vic: Man jailed for 17-and-a-half years over cabbie murder

Eds: Reissuing to correct dateline



MELBOURNE, Dec 3 AAP - A Melbourne man has been sentenced to more than 17 years jail
for the murder of a taxi driver who was crushed to death by his own cab.

Eyyub Bayram Zaim, 23, of Broadmeadows, was found guilty of murdering Rajneesh Joga,
27, as he tried to force him from his taxi on August 8, 2006.

He was charged with murder based on unintentional killing in the course of a crime of violence.

Mr Joga was hanging outside his cab when he was crushed between the car door and a
tree in suburban Donvale, causing him fatal injuries.

The court was told Zaim was high on methamphetamine and the incident was the culmination
of a seven-hour crime spree.

He had hailed down Mr Joga's taxi after the tyres of a car he had stolen blew out during
a police chase in which he ran through two red lights.

In sentencing, Justice David Harper said Zaim was "entirely reckless" for Mr Joga's safety.

"Your violence towards him was a conscious, voluntary and deliberate act," he said.

Mr Harper said taxi drivers deserved protection given they were more exposed to danger
than most people.

Zaim was sentenced to 17-and-half years jail with a minimum of 14 years and six months.

He has already spent more than two years in custody.

AAP mi/gfr/imc/bwl

KEYWORD: ZAIM (REISSUING)

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