VIC: Taxi driver jailed for stabbing "unruly" young woman

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-1998
VIC: Taxi driver jailed for stabbing "unruly" young woman

By Stuart Walsh

MELBOURNE, Dec 11 AAP - A taxi driver who admitted stabbing a teenage passenger because she
and her friends unruly behaviour upset him was today jailed for three months.

County Court judge John Dee said he appreciated the behaviour of the 19-year-old woman and
her two companions' had been "beyond the pale".

The threesome, who had been to a nightclub, had abused 46-year-old Selaheddin Koybasi, a
man the judge described as a previously "model citizen".

He had come to Australia from Turkey as a political refugee in 1989.

However his use of a pocket knife, stabbing 19-year-old Lucinda Manson and puncturing her
lung was a "despicable, cowardly act".

The court heard that Koybasi, a father of two, now banned from driving taxis, stabbed and
punched Ms Manson before chasing her and her friend, Tammy Yendall, 20, and hitting them both
in the face early on April 16 last year.

Ms Manson suffered a collapsed, punctured lung, a bloody nose and bruising to her head.

She spent three days in hospital.

Ms Yendall was hit so hard that her dentist said the damage done to her mouth would take
another 12 months to recover from.

The court heard that Koybasi got into a heated argument with Ms Manson and Ms Yendall's
boyfriend who was sitting in the front passenger seat.

Koybasi eventually let the man out in Victoria Street, Glenroy.

He drove off with the two women huddled in fear and screaming in the back seat.

Ms Manson said that she did not realise she had been stabbed but felt a bubbling sensation
in her chest as she was running away from Koybasi in William Street, Glenroy.

Koybasi caught the two women and punched them.

He then got back into his taxi, drove off and continued working.

Judge Dee said Koybasi, who had been a secondary school teacher in Turkey, came here in
1989 as a political refugee and until the attack on the passengers, could have been described
as a "model citizen".

But the judge said Koybasi, of Meadow Heights, had carried out a "reprehensible and
abhorrent attack".

The judge said he could understand the frustration and anger Koybasi felt over the
behaviour of the passengers - they were unruly and munching on burgers.

The two women passengers had put their feet next to his seat and had annoyed him.

The judge said the atmosphere became heated and a row developed before Koybasi attacked.

Judge Dee said the circumstances were disturbing and he was satisfied that Koybasi had
"lost complete control".

He pleaded guilty to one count each of intentionally causing serious injury and recklessly
causing injury.

The judge sentenced Koybasi to 15 months but wholly suspended 12 months.

AAP sew/er/bjm

KEYWORD: KOYBASI

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