Brian Twohey
February 21, 2003
London, England

Taxi driver died after fare row with lap dancers
By Ed Harris
Evening Standard
21 May 2004
London, UK

A taxi driver collapsed and died after a row with two lap dancers who refused to pay their fare.

One of the dancers threatened to shoot cabbie Brian Twohey after he challenged her for running
off without paying the £11.50 they owed.

Minutes later he collapsed with a heart attack. One of the dancers mocked the 57-year-old
grandfather as he died on the pavement.

Today his widow Carol said she was "devastated" after Liane McPherson, 22, was cleared of
manslaughter. "His family were his life and he was ours," she said. "We have a great big void in
our lives that can never be filled."

McPherson, who earned up to £500 a night at Secrets, a London lap dance club, was found guilty at
Wood Green Crown Court of threatening to shoot Mr Twohey.

She and her friend Sharon Roberts, 25, had faced manslaughter charges, but these were dropped
during the trial after the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence.

Speaking after the verdict, Mrs Twohey, 57, said: "The medical evidence says the events of the
incident undoubtedly caused Brian's death. We are devastated that, under the judge's direction,
the question of manslaughter was never put before the jury.

"How frightening it must have been to have a fight and argument going on in such a confined
space, as well as being threatened to be shot by Liane McPherson. We heard in court how appalling
their behaviour was - all he wanted was payment for his job."

She called her husband "an honest, hardworking, loving and devoted husband, dad and grandad".

Mr Twohey, from Witham, Essex, had a weak heart, and the judge ruled his attack was triggered by
McPherson's actions.

His widow, married for 37 years, attended every day of the two-week hearing with two of her three
sons - City trader Paul, 30, and Jonathan, 24, a teacher.

McPherson, from Stratford, and Roberts, of Battersea, had been downing £100 bottles of Cristal
champagne at nightclubs before taking Mr Twohey's cab to the Home House club in Portman Square
shortly before 4am in February last year. Both women became "angry and frustrated" when they were
refused entry to the club, where they had tried to gatecrash a Brit Awards party.

As Mr Twohey approached them to ask for his money McPherson, a trained dancer, "forcibly" shoved 
him.

The women then demanded that Mr Twohey drive them to a cash machine to get money out, it was 
said.

McPherson screamed: "I'll shoot you, I'll kill you." Seconds later the driver slumped to the 
ground. The court heard that, minutes later, McPherson told police: "He's drunk, he's 
play-acting," before Mr Twohey died on the pavement. Although Judge Kenneth Zucker QC ruled the 
women's actions contributed to Mr Twohey's heart attack, he added: "The defendants are not 
legally guilty of his death." He told McPherson she could go to prison.

The pair will reappear at the court on 9 June, when Roberts will be sentenced for making off 
without payment and McPherson for threatening words and making off without payment.

A charge of common assault against McPherson was ordered to lie on the file after the jury 
failed to reach a verdict.

************************************************

Tragic end to shooting threat - Newham, UK.

TWO women whose "appalling behaviour" led to a taxi driver suffering a fatal heart attack face 
sentencing next month, although at least one will not go to jail.

Liane McPherson, 22, of West Road, Stratford, was found guilty of threatening behaviour 
involving a threat to shoot Brian Twohey, 57, and admitted making off without payment of £20.

Sharon Roberts, 25, of Battersea, changed her plea during the two-week trial at Wood Green Crown 
Court, eventually admitting making off without payment.

She was cleared of assaulting Mr Twohey and threatening behaviour.

Both women were cleared of manslaughter and affray after Judge Kenneth Zucker QC said there was 
insufficient evidence.

The jury failed to reach a verdict on McPherson of assaulting Mr Twohey, and this was left on 
file.

Remanding both women on bail until June 9, Judge Zucker said: "It's quite clear the criminal 
conduct of these two defendants, particularly McPherson, placed him in such stress his heart 
failed, but they are not legally guilty of his death."

He told Roberts she would not receive a custodial sentence and would not go to jail, but that 
"all options" were open against McPherson, saying: "In the scheme of things a threat to kill 
is very serious."

The two women, both former dancers at a gentlemen's club, took Mr Twohey's cab to a private 
celebrity party in the West End following the Brit Awards. But they were turned away and shoved 
past Mr Twohey who was demanding his fare.

Back in the cab they began arguing and threatening to smash up the taxi. Mr Twohey, of Witham 
in Essex, called police and in the frantic phone call could be heard to say: "I've got trouble 
now. Leave that door alone! They're threatening to smash up the cab now."

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