December 09, 2008

Teenagers arrested for taxi driver murder

Two teenagers will make an appearance in the Christchurch Youth Court today charged with the murder of taxi driver Abdulrahman Ikhtiari early on Saturday morning.

The arrests came after police executed a series of search warrants and obtained several items of interest to the investigation.

The youths aged 16 and 19 were then interviewed and charged with the murder of Mr Ikhtiari, who was killed by a single stab wound to the chest, while his cab was stopped in Worcester Street, near the Barbadoes Street corner.
The police statement said both youths would appear in the Youth Court, even though one is aged 19 and eligible for the District Court.

The weapon used in the attack, which?the police?believe to have a blade of at least 140mm long and 20mm wide is still outstanding.
"Despite the arrest of these two males I still appeal to members of the public who have any information about this crime to contact the police," said the officer in charge of the inquiry, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Johnson. ?