Taxi murder suspect 'cannot remember'

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Taxi murder suspect 'cannot remember'
By Court Reporter

Murdered: Gian Chand Bajar


A GAS fitter accused of murdering a taxi driver by running him over with his cab cannot remember what happened, a court heard.

Luke Aujila has given his account of the events leading up to the death of Gian Chand Bajar in Gravesend on May 23 last year.

Aujila told Maidstone Crown Court he accepted he was guilty of Mr Bajar's manslaughter but he has pleaded not guilty to murder.

The 21-year-old had been a passenger in Mr Bajar's cab. Mr Bajar was attacked and then run over with his own taxi.

Aujila said he had been drinking heavily before the incident and could not remember what happened. He did not even remember getting into the taxi.

When questioned about why Mr Bajar had taken him to Benedict Road rather than Dorchester Road, where he was living at the time, he said he did not know.

Asked why he attacked Mr Bajar, he alleged the 71-year-old grabbed him and that he reacted in order to get him off.

He accepted he ran over the taxi driver and drove off in the car before setting fire to it in Dorchester Road, Gravesend, to cover his tracks.

There had been blood on his clothes and he said he had known that it was not his and had "half-known" whose it was.

He also told the court how he panicked when the police started to investigate and how he tried to get rid of other evidence.

He admitted telling lies to police when arrested.

Referring to the statement he gave police he said: "I gave a prepared statement that wasn't true.

"I didn't want to be involved in what happened.

"I thought if I gave that statement, it would go away."

The body of Mr Bajar, who was a well-known figure in Gravesend's Sikh community, was left battered and broken after the incident.

Earlier a pathologist told the court Mr Bajar suffered 39 injuries in all, which included a broken hip, broken thigh and broken ribs.

Aujila, of no fixed address, has claimed that what happened was a "tragic accident."

The trial continues.

Sickening to read how callous people can be, and the convenient amnesia? Unbelievable lie but watch the justice system fall for it.

Tragedy for the old boy and my thoughts for the family.

Face of a killer: Young man guilty of cabbie murder

Luke Aujila was convicted by a majority verdict at Maidstone Crown Court

This is 21-year-old Luke Aujila - the man convicted of mercilessly mowing down a Kent taxi driver after a row over the fare.

Aujila, of no fixed address, stood emotionless in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court as the jury returned a guilty verdict with a 10-2 majority after more than 13 agonising hours' deliberation.

Well-respected cab driver Gian Chand Bajar was run over by his own car in Gravesend after a drunken Aujila, who had denied murder but admitted manslaughter, argued over the fare, the court heard.

Aujila's mum Annette, 42, and brother Thomas, 25, were both in court to witness the verdict which was brought in just before 1pm Wednesday.

The pair, of Dorchester Road, Gravesend, and Gordon Road, Northfleet respectively, are both due to be sentenced on Friday for perverting the course of justice.

Aujila had insisted Gian Chand Bajar's death was an accident and that he had little recollection of the fateful night in May last year.

Mr Bajar, 71, of Darnley Road, Gravesend, was found lying seriously injured in St Benedict's Avenue in the town after being run over by his own taxi.

The respected father-of-five had been working for Millennium Taxis. As a result of his death, additional security measures including CCTV in cabs and payment in advance, were instigated.

After the verdict, Mr Bajar's family issued a pre-prepared statement expressing their "heart-felt thanks" to police. It said: "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."

The family and North Kent Police said they would not comment further until after sentencing, expected later today