Life Sentence for Man Convicted of Murdering Solihull Taxi Driver
Oliver Pugh, aged 20, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of taxi driver Mohammed Istakhar, who was brutally stabbed to death in Solihull last November.
The 44-year-old victim, Mr. Istakhar, was discovered with severe injuries on November 29 on Braggs Farm Road. Tragically, despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries.
Pugh’s guilt in the murder was established in July, when he was found guilty of the crime.
The tragic sequence of events began when Mr. Istakhar, who had been working that night to provide for his family, picked up Pugh and another man in his taxi from Birmingham city center. Roughly half an hour later, they were captured on CCTV chasing Mr. Istakhar towards Lady Lane in Solihull.
Minutes later, CCTV footage showed the two men returning alone to Mr. Istakhar’s taxi. As the taxi drove away from the scene, CCTV images revealed an object, believed to be Mr. Istakhar’s phone, being discarded from the car.
Subsequently, the taxi was seen stopping outside Pugh’s residence, where both men exited the vehicle and removed the taxi’s livery and number plates. Later, the taxi was recovered by the police for forensic testing at Malpit Close.
When Mr. Istakhar’s body was discovered, Pugh’s passport was found in his pocket. Following a public appeal for information, Pugh was apprehended while hiding in a caravan in Derbyshire.
Throughout the investigation, both Pugh and the other individual denied any involvement in Mr. Istakhar’s death, each shifting blame onto the other.
Today, at Birmingham Crown Court, Oliver Pugh was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 27 years to be served.
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, from the Homicide Team, condemned the horrific attack and expressed sympathy for Mr. Istakhar’s family. She stated, “This was a horrific attack on a father who was out working that night to provide for his family. Earlier that evening, Pugh had also assaulted other men for no apparent reason. He was clearly intent on causing harm to others that night. Our thoughts remain with Mr. Istakhar’s family, and I hope this sentence can bring them some closure.”
Oliver Pugh, aged 20, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of taxi driver Mohammed Istakhar, who was brutally stabbed to death in Solihull last November.
The 44-year-old victim, Mr. Istakhar, was discovered with severe injuries on November 29 on Braggs Farm Road. Tragically, despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries.
Pugh’s guilt in the murder was established in July, when he was found guilty of the crime.
The tragic sequence of events began when Mr. Istakhar, who had been working that night to provide for his family, picked up Pugh and another man in his taxi from Birmingham city center. Roughly half an hour later, they were captured on CCTV chasing Mr. Istakhar towards Lady Lane in Solihull.
Minutes later, CCTV footage showed the two men returning alone to Mr. Istakhar’s taxi. As the taxi drove away from the scene, CCTV images revealed an object, believed to be Mr. Istakhar’s phone, being discarded from the car.
Subsequently, the taxi was seen stopping outside Pugh’s residence, where both men exited the vehicle and removed the taxi’s livery and number plates. Later, the taxi was recovered by the police for forensic testing at Malpit Close.
When Mr. Istakhar’s body was discovered, Pugh’s passport was found in his pocket. Following a public appeal for information, Pugh was apprehended while hiding in a caravan in Derbyshire.
Throughout the investigation, both Pugh and the other individual denied any involvement in Mr. Istakhar’s death, each shifting blame onto the other.
Today, at Birmingham Crown Court, Oliver Pugh was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 27 years to be served.
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, from the Homicide Team, condemned the horrific attack and expressed sympathy for Mr. Istakhar’s family. She stated, “This was a horrific attack on a father who was out working that night to provide for his family. Earlier that evening, Pugh had also assaulted other men for no apparent reason. He was clearly intent on causing harm to others that night. Our thoughts remain with Mr. Istakhar’s family, and I hope this sentence can bring them some closure.”
