Macabre hit and run cabdriver Montreal 29-04-12

[kerridwen]

As a motorcycle rider in Mexico City I hate cabbies with passion, they are the most dangerous kind of driver out there...

But in this case, the cabby was being attacked by an angry mob. It was self defense and given the video, I wouldn't doubt for a second that he feared for his life.

[Slayer]

I would have run them over as well, but I think this guy's issue is going to be that he sorta drove away, then turned back to them. They'll nail him for that since he could have left.

[Gaki]

Yup, common sense was on vacation. Never mess with a car especially when the driver is nuts.

people are meaty flesh bags. You will never win against a 3000 lb car. Kinda like people who decide to just walk in front of car because they have right of way

[crannky]

people are meaty flesh bags. You will never win against a 3000 lb car. Kinda like people who decide to just walk in front of car because they have right of way

Well, apparently when one has a vagina and is on a phone, a forcefield develops around them and they are, in fact, impervious to cars.

[Skizzle1111]

The cabbie should claim it was a floor mat stuck on the pedal.

[Gaki]

The cabbie should claim it was a floor mat stuck on the pedal.

[Mtl-Marc]

The cabbie should claim it was a floor mat stuck on the pedal.

[strapontin]

Cabbie granted bail:

Montreal cab driver charged in alleged hit-and-run granted bail
Montreal— The Canadian Press
Published Wednesday, May. 02, 2012 3:29PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, May. 02, 2012 3:37PM EDT
A judge has granted bail to a Montreal cabbie charged in an alleged hit-and-run that is making the rounds in a gruesome video on the Internet.

The release comes with several conditions.

Taxi driver Guercy Edmond is forbidden from working in certain areas, and from having contact with three people involved in last weekend's altercation.

Before granting bail, Judge Jean-Pierre Boyer called the man's four-day detention scandalous and unnecessary. The judge offered other criticisms of how authorities handled the case.

Today's news will be greeted warmly by scores of fellow taxi drivers who have been crowding around the courthouse, honking their horns in support of the accused — the 47-year-old Edmond.

New details emerged at today's hearing of the events that led to the alleged hit-and-run, which left a young man in hospital with serious injuries.

According to police, Mr. Edmond had already tried mowing down the victim once, even before the cameras started rolling.

That was just one of many alleged details to emerge at the hearing for Mr. Edmond, who faces four charges following the morbid scene that was videotaped and posted online.

A Montreal police investigator, Detective-Sergeant Frederic Gagne, told the bail hearing that the videos only tell the second part of the story.

Witnesses told police that an altercation over a fare turned hostile and that the accused tried running over his victim, Benoit Kapelli, slamming into a lamp post in the process.

The police officer says Mr. Edmond told authorities he simply lost control of his car. That initial incident allegedly caused damage to the car and was just one step in an escalating confrontation.

The alleged hit-and-run, which occurred at almost 4 a.m., was preceded by a dispute in the cab over a fare, amid heavy traffic with three passengers who were intoxicated, according to Mr. Edmond's testimony to police.

According to that testimony, the issue of race came up during the dispute. There was allegedly a verbal exchange during the ride about rituals like voodoo and female genital mutilation.

Mr. Edmond is Haitian. The three passengers were white.

The dispute was apparently also over whether the fare was $9 — as claimed by Mr. Edmond — or $5, as claimed by a trio of passengers.

During the argument, Mr. Edmond claims he was struck by Mr. Kapelli inside the cab. Later, before eyewitnesses began filming, Mr. Edmond is alleged to have tossed a bottle at the passengers.

Mr. Edmond is charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, hit-and-run and dangerous driving.

The diminutive cabbie, who rents his vehicle and has been driving for eight years, doesn't usually drive downtown and is based at the airport.

Mr. Gagne testified Wednesday that Mr. Edmond told him he was seeking a few additional fares that night so he headed downtown.

Scores of fellow cab drivers who support Mr. Edmond gathered outside the courthouse this morning. They pushed and jostled for place in a courtroom to be able to hear the case. An overflow room had to be opened for the large group.

They have blocked the street in front of the courthouse, honking their horns in support of his cause. They are calling for him to be released on bail.

Another article states the guy who got run over ended up with:

• 2 broken ribs
• ruptured spleen
• ruptured bladder
• damage to the lungs (?)
• bruises to the abdomen
• various cuts

Pretty damn lucky considering...

[TheDarkEnergist]

Judge Jean-Pierre Boyer called the man's four-day detention scandalous and unnecessary.

Uh. I'm sorry but what? This was assault with a deadly weapon. How is 4 days in a holding cell scandalous and unnecessary?!?

[GolfTango]

So cabby tried to run down the victim before. Then comes full circle and finally runs him down a second time. He needs to go to jail for his actions, in this case, attempted murder.

Hell, if a cab tried to run me down, I would be assaulting his vehicle too (which is what you see on the video)

• 2 broken ribs
• ruptured spleen
• ruptured bladder
• damage to the lungs (?)
• bruises to the abdomen
• various cuts

Pretty damn lucky considering...

That cab came pretty damn close to squashing his melon..he is lucky for sure.

[strapontin]

Uh. I'm sorry but what? This was assault with a deadly weapon. How is 4 days in a holding cell scandalous and unnecessary?!?

In the french article they state that he was charged without the prosecutors even seeing the videos. The defense side has yet to receive the videos as they're still being extracted from the seized cell phones. Police is slow...

So basically: without the videos, prosecutors had no grounds for charging the guy, should have waited for the videos, press charges then and the peep could have been granted bail at that time.

Or something to that effect.

For the record I'd tend to agree with you.

Also, concerning the protest in front of the courthouse, from the pics, it looks like only the haitian cabbies showed up.

[TheDarkEnergist]

In the french article they state that he was charged without the prosecutors even seeing the videos. The defense side has yet to receive the videos as they're still being extracted from the seized cell phones. Police is slow...

So basically: without the videos, prosecutors had no grounds for charging the guy, should have waited for the videos, press charges then and the peep could have been granted bail at that time.

Or something to that effect.

For the record I'd tend to agree with you.

Also, concerning the protest in front of the courthouse, from the pics, it looks like only the haitian cabbies showed up.

Ok, that clears things up a bit. But really...This guy needs to be punished bigtime. His reaction was ridiculous.