Pair jailed for killing Uber driver in 'savage and sustained' attack

Two "drunken louts" who kicked an Uber driver to death after he asked them to stop eating food in his taxi have been jailed.

Connor McPartland, 20, and, Martin Treacy, 18, repeatedly punched and kicked Ali Asghar, 39, in a "ferocious, brutal and totally unforgiving attack" on 30 October last year.

The pair became angry after Asghar took them to a wrong address that they had put into the Uber app, Manchester Crown Court was told.

A jury heard the pair had ordered a taxi so they could meet friends at the Ko-Ko Lounge nightclub in Rochdale.

But McPartland entered the address for Coco's Grillhouse and Desserts into the app by mistake.

Asghar asked the pair to stop eating their cheeseburgers and chips in his vehicle, and then when he explained they had put the wrong address in to the app, they attacked him.

Prosecutor Galais Gozem said the taxi arrived at the address and paused before stopping near a Shell petrol station shortly after 4am.

Mr Asghar opened the rear passenger door to let the McPartland and Treacy out when a "ferocious argument" broke out.

The pair launched into the attack which culminated in the taxi driver being pushed over, cracking his head and fracturing his skull.

He was then kicked in the head as he lay defenceless on the floor, the court heard.

Another taxi driver, Mohammad Khalid, saw Asghar being confronted and attempted to reason with the two men. But he swiftly retreated to his taxi fearing he would also be attacked and called the police.

Asghar died two weeks later in hospital as a result of head injuries sustained in the assault.

McPartland and Treacy, both of Oldham, denied murder but were found guilty after a nine-day trial.

On Monday they were jailed for 14 years, six months and 13 years, six months respectively.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Alan Conrad QC commended Khalid's bravery and branded the killers "a pair of drunken and entitled louts".

He said: "This was a savage and sustained attack. You both lied about your involvement and sought to minimise what you did."

In a statement released by police, Asghar's family said he was a loving and devoted son, brother and friend who will be "forever missed".

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Speaking after sentencing, senior investigating officer Phil Reade welcomed the sentence, saying: “The senseless actions of Treacy and McPartland that morning were utterly despicable and led to a family losing a much loved son and brother.

"These two men are clearly violent individuals and I am relieved that they are now off our streets and have time to think about their actions and the hurt and sorrow they have caused.

"The judge today highly commended the taxi driver for his actions in attempting to save Ali’s life and I’d also like to thank him for his bravery."