A 21-YEAR-OLD man has been found guilty of murdering Gravesend taxi driver, Gian Chand Bajar.

Luke Aujila formerly of Dorchester Road, Gravesend, was found guilty at Maidstone Crown Court after a three week trial.

The jury returned today after going out on Thursday (May 22) to consider its verdict.

The gas fitter of no fixed address had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but denied murdering Mr Bajar - claiming that the 71-year-old taxi driver's death had been a "tragic accident."

Mr Bajar died from 39 separate injuries after he was found lying in St Benedict's Avenue, Gravesend on May 23 last year.

The court had heard Aujila knocked Mr Bajar to the ground and kicked him after an argument over the taxi fare. He then got into the taxi and ran over the cabbie - who was a well-known figure in Gravesend's Sikh community.

Aujila then drove off in the taxi and set fire to it in Dorchester Road, Gravesend - close to where he was living at the time.

Two other members of Aujila's family - his mother Annette, aged 42, of Dorchester Road, Gravesend, and his brother Thomas, aged 25, of Gordon Road, Northfleet - have both admitted perverting the course of justice by helping to dispose of clothes after the incident.

Aujila is due for sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court tomorrow (May 29).

Family's statement

After the verdict the family of Mr Bajar released a statement.

It said: "We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the police and investigating team led by Mr Atkinson for their exceptional efforts and hard work to catch the perpetrators involved in our father's murder.

"We appreciate the skill, diligence and professionalism they have displayed both during and after our father's murder investigation.

"We would also like to thank the local community including the taxi drivers and many, many ordinary members of the local community for their support, kind words and best wishes throughout this difficult period."

Taxi drivers' reaction

Rick Davis, 54, is the joint secretary of United Taxi Group, which represents taxi drivers throughout Gravesend.

He said: "My gut reaction is to think 'thank God that justice will be served'.

"I hope that this serves as a deterrent to anybody else who is thinking of doing the same thing.

"This man (Luke Aujila) pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which was an absolute joke.

"It looks like justice will be done, but we'll see when the judge hands out the sentence."

The murder of Mr Bajar prompted taxi driver Mr Davis to form plans to install a CCTV camera in every taxi in Gravesend.

The scheme costs £600 to £800 per taxi and has received funding from Gravesham Council. It is set to be launched at the beginning of June.

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