Younis Khan
March 14, 2007
Sheffield, England

Yorkshire Post
(Leeds, England)
March 14, 2007

Sheffield taxi driver shot dead

A TAXI driver was shot dead in his cab early today in an incident
in Sheffield. The 53 year old victim was taken to the Northern
General Hospital following the incident at around 1.45 am but
was found to be dead on arrival.

A police spokeswoman said: "The incident happened at 1.45am.
Police officers were called to reports of shots being fired and a
road traffic collision. On arrival at the scene police found the taxi
driver, who was driving a Hackney cab, had suffered gun shot
wounds."

The scene has been cordoned off and a forensic examination is
taking place, the spokeswoman said. Officers are appealing for
witnesses.

The victim, named locally as Younis Khan, is a father of five and
grandfather of three.

A relative, who did not wish to be named, said: "We're all
devastated. All we know is that he was shot. He didn't have any
enemies. He was well liked and well respected. We can't believe
it."

Residents spoke of their shock. One, who did not want to be
named, said: "This used to be a bad area for drug dealing but it
has improved recently.It is still a shock to see police outside your
house and hear someone has been shot in the early hours."

Taxi driver Jumma Khan, 33, who lives in Scott Road and knew
the victim, said nothing like this had happened in the area
before. But he said gangs of youths had been operating in
Sheffield, ordering taxis before robbing the drivers at gunpoint.

He said the victim, had owned two newsagents nearby but had
sold them before buying another one down the road.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yorkshire Post
(Leeds, England)
March 15, 2007

Police hunt for motive after taxi driver shot dead

By Paul Whitehouse

DETECTIVES were last night trying to find a motive for the
murder of a hard- working middle-aged taxi driver shot in a hail
of gunfire in a city suburb.

Multiple shots were fired at Younis Khan's black cab and several
bullets struck the vehicle as he drove in Scott Road, Pitsmoor,
Sheffield, in the early hours of yesterday.

Although police have confirmed the 53-year-old died as a result
of gunshot wounds, they have declined to say how many rounds
hit Mr Khan, who apparently continued to drive in an attempt to
flee his attacker.

His vehicle struck two parked cars a short distance later and
came to a halt near the gates of Burngreave Cemetery.

The investigation is being hampered by the fact that so far police
know little about the circumstances of the shooting, although
they believe the shots were fired from near the Scott Road
junction with College Road.

Last night they were still carrying out a forensic examination of
the scene, the cab and Mr Khan's body in the hope of finding
evidence.

Detective Superintendent Martyn Bates, who is leading the
investigation, said one objective was to establish a motive.

It had already been confirmed that Mr Khan was not the victim of
any previous crime and had not been the subject of any police
investigation.

Det Supt Bates said: "We are focusing our investigations locally
and currently there is no clear motive.

"Mr Khan was a hard-working family man who worked in the city
as a taxi driver. He had not been the victim of crime recently and
neither has he been involved in any crime himself."

Lines of inquiry being explored by the police include the
possibility that Mr Khan was simply a random target; that he
could have been the victim of an intended robbery; or that he
was an innocent man targeted as part of a wider feud.

At this stage it appears there had been no attempt to search or
steal from the vehicle but detectives are still trying to establish
why he was in Scott Road at the time of the shooting, around
1.45 am.

Normally Mr Khan would have been working all evening but had
been away attending to a family matter and had gone to work
only a short time before his death.

He lived in Abbeyfield Road, off Scott Road, but police believe
he was returning to the area at the time of his death, although
there was no reason for him to be going home at that time.

So far officers have been unable to confirm the type of weapon
used in the shooting, though a small-calibre gun such as a pistol
is thought to be most likely.

"We are aware of some of his movements prior to this," said Det
Supt Bates.

"He had not been working as normal that day and had nothing of
value at that stage. He had just started his shift but we believe
he was returning to the area, rather
than leaving."

After the shooting passers-by and residents gave first aid to Mr
Khan and an ambulance took him to the Northern General
Hospital but he never regained consciousness.

"We are keen to establish information about his movements in
the minutes leading up to his death," Det Supt Bates added.

A temporary police station has been set up in Pitsmoor to help
reassure residents and provide a contact point for anyone
wanting to pass on information.

With some cabbies concerned for their own safety, a meeting
was held between police, Sheffield Council and the city's Taxi
Trade Federation last night. However, spokesman Hafeas
Rehman said the circumstances of Mr Khan's death did not
appear to pose a general threat to other cabbies.

A relative of Mr Khan said: "We're all devastated. All we know is
that he was shot. He didn't have any enemies. He was well liked
and well respected. We can't believe it."

A local resident said: "This used to be a bad area for drug
dealing but it has improved recently. It is still a shock to see
police outside your house and hear someone has been shot in
the early hours."

Sheffield has a history of being relatively free of gun crime
compared to similar communities such as Nottingham.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yorkshire Post
(Leeds, England)
March 16, 2007

Third suspect arrested over taxi driver murder

By Anna Smith

POLICE have arrested a third man in connection with the death
of Sheffield taxi driver Younis Khan.

The man, said to be in his mid 20s, was arrested late last night
and is due to be interviewed by officers today.

A 27-year-old man and a 23-year-old man have been released
on bail pending further enquiries.

More than 100 officers, including search teams and house-to-
house inquiry teams, are working on the investigation.

Mr Khan, a father-of-five, from Pitsmoor, died as a result of a
single gun shot wound to the chest in the early hours of
Wednesday morning.
Police have renewed an appeal for witnesses to the attack,
which happened at around 1.45am on Scott Road, Pitsmoor.

Anyone with information is urged to call Attercliffe CID on 0114
296 4471.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BBC News
(London, England)
March 17, 2007

Killed cab driver 'loved his job'

The family of a taxi driver shot in his car have urged anyone with
information about his death to come forward.

Father-of-five Younis Khan, 53, was shot as he drove along
Scott Road, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, on Wednesday.

A statement released by his family said Mr Khan, of Abbeyfield
Road, had loved his job as a taxi driver and "did not deserve to
die in this way".

A third man arrested in connection with Mr Khan's death was
released on bail on Saturday, South Yorkshire Police said.

Two other men, aged 23 and 27, who were arrested in
Upperthorpe and Middlewood on Thursday morning have also
since been released on bail.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Khan, who also had
five grandchildren, died from a single gunshot to the chest, fired
from a handgun.

The family statement said: "Our family are shocked and
devastated by the death of a devoted and loving husband, father
and grandfather.

"Our father was a kind and gentle man who all his life had been
hard-working and who loved his job as a taxi driver in Sheffield.

"Our father was well-liked and respected in the community by all
who knew him. Younis Khan was a husband, father and
grandfather who did not deserve to die in this way.

"The family need the support of the community and ask that any
person with information contacts the police."

An evidence marker behind a police cordon at the scene of the
shooting
Police said more than 100 officers were working on the
investigation
A help desk has been set up for concerned taxi drivers.

South Yorkshire Police said there were now more than 100
officers involved in the investigation and they were carrying out
door-to-door inquiries.

Mr Khan's Hackney cab crashed into two parked cars after he
was shot.

It is believed he lost control of the vehicle because of his
injuries.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sheffield Star
(Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England)
March 21, 2007

Police identify why taxi driver killed

By Richard Heath

POLICE today revealed they have established a motive for the 
murder of Sheffield taxi driver Younis Khan.

The 53-year-old died after a gunman opened fire on his cab as 
he drove along Scott Road in Pitsmoor shortly after starting a 
night shift.

Last week police said they had "no idea" why the law-abiding 
father-of-five, of Abbeyfield Road, was targeted.

But today, speaking a week after the shooting, Det Chief Supt 
Martyn Bates said officers are now focusing the investigation on 
a specific line of inquiry after receiving information from the 
public.

"We have had dozens of calls from people suggesting a 
background and possible motives for the murder. We now 
believe we know the motive and are focusing on a very strong 
line of inquiry."

Det Chief Supt Bates refused to reveal details of the motive but 
police have refused to rule out the possibility that Mr Khan's 
family had been involved in a serious
feud.

Police have arrested four suspects and released them all on bail 
pending inquiries.

A 23-year-old from Upperthorpe and a man aged 27 from 
Middlewood were arrested last Thursday,.

A man in his mid-20s, also from Middlewood, was arrested the 
same day in Barnsley and a man in his 20s was arrested at 
home in Pitsmoor.

But Det Chief Supt Bates said that despite the rapid arrests the 
investigation, which involves more than 100 officers including up 
to 60 CID officers, is likely to be "difficult and drawn out".

"It's going to be a challenging investigation and will take some 
time but I am confident we will get there in the end."

Police last night carried out high-profile roadside checks on 
motorists driving along Barnsley Road and Scott Road to jog 
people's memories.

The operation, from 11am yesterday to 2.30am today, targeted 
shift workers at the Northern General Hospital.

Det Chief Supt Bates said: "They may have witnessed a car 
speeding down the road and not realised the significance. It is 
very important we speak to these people."

A funeral for Mr Khan has not been held as his body has not 
been released by the police.

Anyone with information should call 0114 296 4471 or 
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BBC News
(London, England)
July 17, 2007

Men facing court over shot cabbie

Younis Khan

Detectives investigating the killing of a Sheffield taxi driver, 
shot dead in his cab, have charged three men from the city with 
conspiracy to murder.

Father-of-five Younis Khan, 53, was shot as he drove along Scott 
Road, Burngreave, Sheffield, on 13 March.

The men will appear before Sheffield Magistrates on Wednesday.

They are: David Cohen, 27, of Upperthorpe; Ashley Cohen, 24, of 
Oughtibridge; and Ramzan Mirza, 26, of Darnall, Sheffield.

Ashley Cohen is also charged with two offences of conspiracy to 
pervert the course of justice.

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