-
Deceased taxi driver Hiren Mohini - Source: ONE News -
Related
Hundreds of friends, family and colleagues will on Thursday farewell slain Auckland taxi driver Hiren Mohini, as the company he drove for vows to step up safety for its drivers.
The 39-year-old died soon after he was repeatedly stabbed by a passenger early on Sunday morning in what police said was "a particularly vicious, brutal and frenzied attack".
The cab veered off the road and hit a tree in View Road, Mt Eden.
His wife, Falguni, and two young children are expected to be joined by hundreds of mourners and supporters at Waikumete Cemetery, also known as Waitemata Cemetery, in Kelston, where they will farewell the devoted family man at 1pm.
Barry White, general manger of Mohini's employer Auckland Co-op Taxis, yesterday thanked the many customers and business partners who had expressed their sympathy and support for his family.
"Our focus at this time is on ensuring that Mr Mohini's family has all the support it needs."
He vowed the company would take its own steps to ensure the safety of its drivers, despite reassurances from Prime Minister John Key that there would be a review of safety standards in the industry.
"Regardless of their decision we will be taking our own steps to ensure the safety of the fleet.
Driver safety is paramount, so we have to move quickly," he said.
"We will supply and support the driver's choice for any security measure a driver wishes to put in place for themselves. These may include screens, cameras and flak jackets or protective clothing."
New Plymouth taxi driver Tony Brosnan, who was beaten and left for dead a year ago, said some drivers were already taking protection into their own hands.
"I won't say who they are but most of them are arming themselves," he told the Taranaki Daily News.
"They don't want to do it but they have, they are doing it for their own safety."
A government review of safety was long overdue, he said.
Meanwhile, police hunting Mohini's killer said they were putting every available resource into the investigation, stepping up the number of police involved from 30 to 40.
Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones said the extra staff would be used to examine CCTV footage from around the CBD where Mohini picked up his fare.
A hotline set up since the killing had had an encouraging response.
"Every call we receive is important to us, every inquiry we make is a breakthrough," Jones said.
"The community and the nation want to see the person or persons responsible for this frenzied attack held to account for this murder."
Police urged anyone with information to call the police hotline on 0800 444 014 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.
News of his death has been widely reported in Indian newspapers.
Mohini had moved to New Zealand from Mumbai in about 2003 and had been driving taxis for four years, according to close friend and schoolmate from Mumbai, Sachin Jadhav.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
