MURDER BID ACCUSED CAN KEEP TAXI JOB
Licensing chiefs say driver poses no risk to public:
A PRIVATE hire driver accused of a murder bid on a man found dead earlier this week has been allowed to keep working.
William Steele, 49, was judged not to be a threat to the public by licensing committee members. He has already appeared in court and denied attacking Darren Sinclair.
A CABBIE accused of attempting to murder a man who was found dead earlier this week has been allowed to keep his job.
William Steele, 49, was judged not to be a threat to the public by members of Glasgow’s licensing committee.
He appeared in court last month where he denied knocking Darren Sinclair to the ground with a car in Drumchapel, on February 9 this year.
Mr Steele also denied striking Mr Sinclair on the head and body with a machete and pole to his severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of his life, and attempting to murder him.
And in a second charge, Mr Steele is accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by allegedly setting a car on fire with the intention of destroying evidence.
During the court appearance, Mr Steele was granted bail. The licensing committee were told that the alleged attack victim had suffered a broken hand and serious brain injuries which affected his move- ments, thoughts and memory.
And earlier this week, it emerged that Mr Sinclair was found dead on wasteland in Drumchapel on Tuesday – months after the alleged attack.
Mr Steele’s private hire car driver’s licence had been suspended for six weeks following his arrest on October 1 this year.
And Police Scotland had requested that the licensing committee either maintain the suspension or revoke the licence.
Despite that, committee members voted 5-3 in favour of allowing Mr Steele to go back to driving his cab.
Asked if he had ever had any trouble with members of the public, Mr Steele said “no”.
His solicitor, Mr Banks, said: “Mr Steele has held a private hire car driver’s licence at this council for 15 years. He’s had no disciplinary hearings by this committee. He works five, six or seven days a week for up to 10 hours to support his family. He’s got no criminal convictions. He has a clean driving licence and he has no points or endorsements.”