A 22-year-old Ravensmead man has been killed after he was allegedly involved in an incident which saw taxi commuters being robbed.
According to Elsies River police spokesperson Daphne O’Reilly, this incident took place on Wednesday 31 January in Halt Road.
She says while a taxi stopped on the side of the road to pick up a commuter, the taxi driver noticed another taxi pull up in front of him.
“This driver told us in a statement that as the other taxi stopped in front of him, three men jumped out of the taxi and ran off. He says the driver of the other taxi also jumped out, but he had a panga on him and gave chase.
“In the statement he [the witness] further said that a man, who appeared to be a commuter, got out of the taxi and informed him that they had been robbed by the three individuals,” explains O’Reilly.
She adds that this resulted in the taxi driver [witness] and his taxi guard jumping out of their taxi to assist the other driver with catching the trio.
“The taxi guard then managed to get hold of one of the alleged robbers. They found one of the commuter’s bags in the robber’s possession. A fight broke out between the two [taxi guard and robber] which resulted in the robber being stabbed in the back.
“When the ambulance arrived on the scene they declared the man dead,” explains O’Reilly.
Police have opened a robbery and murder docket.
Taxi commuters have been encouraged to be cautious and aware of this new modus operandi.
