Man, 19, stabbed cabbie to death after boasting he was 'going to rob a taxi'

A teenager who stabbed a cab driver to death and stole his car after boasting he was “going to rob a taxi” has been found guilty of murder.

Oliver Pugh, 19, killed Mohammed Istakhar, 46, after luring him to a remote country lane in the West Midlands on 29 November last year.

A court heard the dad-of-five pleaded with his killer "I have got a family, I have got kids" before he was fatally stabbed in the chest.

Pugh, of Solihull, was on Friday found guilty of murder and possessing a knife following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court and is facing life in prison.

Luca de Fazio, 18, of no fixed address, was cleared of the same charge. He had previously admitted a charge of having a knife and was jailed for a month.

The court heard the defendants had gone for a night out in Birmingham city centre.

After leaving Rosies nightclub, Pugh had asked a woman he met there if she was a snitch and then said “I am going to rob a taxi” although she assumed he was joking.

Jurors were told Mr Istakhar had 'the misfortune' of picking up the teenagers.

He drove to Braggs Farm Lane in Solihull, where Pugh pretended to go and fetch cash to pay for the taxi.

He then returned with a knife and stabbed Mr Istakhar through the heart as he tried to defend himself before stealing his Vauxhall Insignia.

At one point the victim, who also suffered stab wounds to his thigh, finger and arm, was captured on CCTV being pursued by Pugh who then turned back.

Mr Istakhar was found in a pool of blood along the country lane by another motorist on their way to work at around 6.30am.

But nothing could be done to save the taxi driver despite the efforts of paramedics who rushed to the scene near Earlsdon Lakes reservoir.

The jury was told that the defendants effectively blamed each other for what had happened after being arrested.

Pugh will be sentenced on 22 September.