Hayadulla Turkmani, a 52-year-old Uber driver from Hornchurch, is on trial for murdering Michael Ashton, 28, in Basildon, Essex, after an incident that occurred last year. According to prosecutors, Turkmani ran over Ashton out of anger following an episode where Ashton vomited inside the car and apologized. Despite Ashton's pleas, Turkmani continued driving forward, fracturing his skull and causing fatal brain injuries. Turkmani has pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter, and causing death by dangerous driving.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
An Uber driver deliberately ran over a customer who had just been sick in the back seat of his car, a murder trial heard today.
asserted
trial → run → car
Hayadulla Turkmani, 52, murdered Michael Ashton, 28, after dropping him off outside his home last year in Basildon, Essex, just before midnight, jurors were told.
asserted
jurors → murder → midnight
The council worker and his partner went inside to get cleaning wipes, which they then used to clean up the 'small amount' of sick, Basildon Crown Court heard.
asserted
Court → go → sick
But Turkmani, who was being aided in the dock by an Afghan Dari interpreter, continued yelling abuse and ran Mr Ashton over out of 'sheer anger and rage'.
asserted
who → aid → anger
Despite the victim's desperate pleas for him to stop, the force snapped Mr Ashton's leg and sent him toppling backwards, headfirst into the pavement.
asserted
force → stop → pavement
As Mr Ashton fell onto the pavement, the back of his skull fractured and his brain was propelled forwards, fracturing the front of his skull too, causing a fatal brain injury, jurors heard.
asserted
jurors → fall → injury
Turkmani, of Hornchurch, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, manslaughter and causing death by dangerous driving, then attempted to drive off, dragging Mr Ashton's body underneath his car, the prosecution alleged.
asserted
prosecution → plead → car
A neighbour had witnessed the horrific event and Mr Ashton was rushed to hospital in Whitechapel, London after police were called to the scene.
asserted
police → witness → scene
The victim died days later on October 4 with a severe brain injury.
asserted
victim → die → injury
Hayadulla Turkmani, 52, has been charged with murdering Michael Ashton (pictured), 28, after dropping him off outside his home last year in Basildon, Essex
asserted
Turkmani → charge → Basildon
Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said: 'The prosecution case is that he had done that in sheer anger and rage, choosing to use his car as a weapon and intentionally aiming it at Mr Ashton, driving it forwards and into him.'
asserted
he → say → him
Mr Ashton made 'repeated and desperate shouts for him to stop', Mr Jackson alleged, but Turkmani 'chooses to continue driving forward'.
asserted
Turkmani → make → shouts
CCTV audio of Mr Ashton's final words were played which left the jury in tears, where he said 'Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!'
asserted
he → play → tears
When police arrived at the scene, Turkmani said the victim ran in front of his car, but he later answered 'no comment; in interview, the jury was told.
asserted
jury → arrive → interview
The prosecution argued Turkmani intended the consequences to his victim.
asserted
Turkmani → argue → victim
The Uber driver has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, manslaughter and causing death by dangerous driving.
asserted
driver → plead → driving
Mr Jackson said the couple had spent 'an enjoyable evening out' in Havering, having dinner with Mr Ashton's sister before visiting a few bars.
asserted
couple → say → bars
At around 11pm, the couple requested an Uber from Frankie's Wine Bar in Hornchurch, to take them home to Basildon.
asserted
couple → request → Basildon
It was 'an uneventful journey', said Mr Jackson, until Mr Ashton became nauseous as they pulled off towards Langdon Hills.
asserted
they → say → Hills
The prosecutor said: 'He tried to open the rear window of the taxi but nausea overcame him.
'
asserted
nausea → say → him
He immediately apologised to the defendant.
asserted
He → apologise → defendant
'A passenger being ill in the back of a taxi is undoubtedly annoying for the driver of the taxi but the defendant, you will hear, was a good deal more than annoyed at the inconvenience.
asserted
you → hear → inconvenience
You will hear that at that point, he became immediately angry and he began shouting at Mr Ashton for the remainder of that journey.'
asserted
he → hear → journey
Mr Jackson added: 'As Mr Ashton lay fatally injured beneath the defendant's Uber, the defendant got out of the taxi.
'
asserted
defendant → add → taxi
He looked beneath the car.
asserted
He → look → car
He must have seen Mr Ashton's body.
asserted
He → see → body
He then got back into his car.
asserted
He → get → car
He then accelerated forwards, needless to say, causing the body of Mr Ashton to be dragged underneath.'
asserted
body → accelerate → Ashton
A tribute issued by police said: 'He was dearly loved by his family, his girlfriend, and the endless list of friends he had.
asserted
he → issue → friends
Michael had the most beautiful aura and lit up every room he entered with his handsome looks, his smile, and his warm personality.
asserted
he → have → looks
'He was loved by everyone and had such a kind soul — he didn't have a bad bone in his body.'
asserted
he → love → body
The trial is expected to last three weeks.
asserted
trial → expect → ?
The Aporia
