February 2nd, 2006, 03:31
Two Caught! TWO 14-year-old girls have been charged with the murder of a disabled Sydney taxi driver who was fatally bashed in the city's south-west last Tuesday.
The girls, from Liverpool and Canley Heights, will appear in Lidcombe Children's Court today.
Youbert Hormozi, of Summer Hill, died on the way to Liverpool Hospital after being found beaten and lying on Parklea Parade at Canley Heights about 2am (AEDT) Tuesday.
Mr Hormozi had been attacked by passengers who stole his taxi before hitting a parked car and dumping the cab in nearby Bonnyrigg.
Police today said officers had arrested the girls at Strathfield train station about 10pm (AEDT) yesterday in connection with unrelated robberies.
Inspector Patrick Wunsch, from Flemington local area command, said the girls were initially detained by CityRail transit officers last night over two alleged armed robberies at Yennora and Strathfield stations, in Sydney's west.
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"About 9.50pm on Wednesday February 1, two young females were detained by CityRailway transit officers in possession of a knife, immediately after they had (allegedly) committed an armed robbery," Insp Wunsch said.
"After they were arrested and during the course of inquiries, evidence has come to light that they had (allegedly) committed the murder upon the taxi driver."
Insp Wunsch would not specify how police connected the girls to the taxi driver's death, but said the link was not established from surveillance footage from the taxi.
The girls, who were of Islander appearance, had been charged with murder, aggravated robbery in company, stealing a motor vehicle, and two counts of robbery in company armed with a knife.
Insp Wunsch said he was "certainly surprised" at the age of the accused.
Insp Wunsch later told ABC radio the two girls were related in a "cousin-type relationship".
No further suspects were being sought in connection with Mr Hormozi's death, he said.
Mr Hormozi's employer, South Western Cabs, this week described him as a lonely man who had been robbed at gunpoint several times.
The cab company's general manager, Elis Kobti, said Mr Hormozi had twice given up his job because of illness and had only returned to driving in the past week.
"The guy is not really healthy because he had a stroke on his left side ... He was a lonely man actually, he was living on his own, and he was a very simple man," he said.
"He was robbed at gunpoint a few times .
The girls, from Liverpool and Canley Heights, will appear in Lidcombe Children's Court today.
Youbert Hormozi, of Summer Hill, died on the way to Liverpool Hospital after being found beaten and lying on Parklea Parade at Canley Heights about 2am (AEDT) Tuesday.
Mr Hormozi had been attacked by passengers who stole his taxi before hitting a parked car and dumping the cab in nearby Bonnyrigg.
Police today said officers had arrested the girls at Strathfield train station about 10pm (AEDT) yesterday in connection with unrelated robberies.
Inspector Patrick Wunsch, from Flemington local area command, said the girls were initially detained by CityRail transit officers last night over two alleged armed robberies at Yennora and Strathfield stations, in Sydney's west.
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"About 9.50pm on Wednesday February 1, two young females were detained by CityRailway transit officers in possession of a knife, immediately after they had (allegedly) committed an armed robbery," Insp Wunsch said.
"After they were arrested and during the course of inquiries, evidence has come to light that they had (allegedly) committed the murder upon the taxi driver."
Insp Wunsch would not specify how police connected the girls to the taxi driver's death, but said the link was not established from surveillance footage from the taxi.
The girls, who were of Islander appearance, had been charged with murder, aggravated robbery in company, stealing a motor vehicle, and two counts of robbery in company armed with a knife.
Insp Wunsch said he was "certainly surprised" at the age of the accused.
Insp Wunsch later told ABC radio the two girls were related in a "cousin-type relationship".
No further suspects were being sought in connection with Mr Hormozi's death, he said.
Mr Hormozi's employer, South Western Cabs, this week described him as a lonely man who had been robbed at gunpoint several times.
The cab company's general manager, Elis Kobti, said Mr Hormozi had twice given up his job because of illness and had only returned to driving in the past week.
"The guy is not really healthy because he had a stroke on his left side ... He was a lonely man actually, he was living on his own, and he was a very simple man," he said.
"He was robbed at gunpoint a few times .