Taxi driver's killer 'destroyed a young family'

(West Mercia Police/PA Wire)

Relatives of taxi driver Mohammed Arshad who was stabbed to death sent an emotional message to his killer today, saying they had "destroyed a young family".

Mr Arshad, 36, died early last Thursday after the assault in Kings Norton, Birmingham, on Wednesday night.

Detectives launched a murder investigation after the father-of-three was found in Wast Hills Lane by a member of the public shortly before 9pm.

He was taken to Selly Oak Hospital, where he later died from stab wounds to the head.

Police believe at least part of the attack took place inside his vehicle.

Today, relatives paid a tearful tribute to the "soft-hearted" cabbie.

In a statement read out by a member of Mr Arshad's family, who wished only to be known as Aieysha, they said: "We would like Arshad's murderer to know that you have taken the life of a loving father, devoted husband, caring son and a decent, law-abiding citizen.

"He was a passive, soft-hearted man who was repeatedly stabbed with a knife in what appears to be a completely unprovoked attack while out driving his taxi."

Choking back tears, Aieysha added: "You have destroyed a young family, which will never be the same again. He did not deserve to die in this way and his killer needs to be brought to justice.

"Arshad leaves behind three very young children and at his funeral two of them cried for their father, not able to comprehend or understand why they would never see him again.

"Words alone cannot express our grief, our total sense of loss and our feelings of utter disbelief that someone, somewhere, could murder another human being in such a cowardly and callous manner."

Video: Appeal for witnesses

"We know now that at least part of the fatal assault on him (Mr Arshad) took place inside his taxi, a blue Ford Galaxy people carrier," she said.

"Forensic tests are continuing on that vehicle, which was found abandoned.

"There has been speculation in some quarters that this murder may have been carried out by a gang or group of people and I would like to make it clear at this time that we do not have any information whatsoever to suggest this is the case."

Mr Arshad's car was discovered a mile away from Wast Hills Lane in Shannon Road, Birmingham, but work was continuing to establish the exact sequence of events surrounding the attack.

Ms Bott said police were keen to trace the driver of a red coupe car seen in Wast Hills Lane around the time Mr Arshad was discovered. as well as a man calling himself Pete, who ordered a taxi from A Cars at 8.20pm on Wednesday.

Mr Arshad lived with his wife and three sons, aged eight, six and three, in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham.

He moved to the UK in 1999 from the Punjab region of Pakistan, where his parents, two brothers and four sisters still live.

Police said he was last seen by his immediate family at 7.15pm last Wednesday, as he waved goodbye to his wife and headed out to work. Earlier in the evening he fed his young sons and tucked them into bed.

Police would not comment on reports that Mr Arshad's widow was seven months pregnant with the couple's fourth child.

Steve Attwood, 60, the owner of Birmingham private hire company A Cars, where Mr Arshad had worked for five years, said last week: "He loved his three children and had another one on the way - his wife is seven months pregnant. The family is naturally devastated.

"He was a very hard-working and conscientious family man, popular with all the customers."

Mr Attwood, who was at Selly Oak Hospital with Mr Arshad's family on Wednesday, added: "I have owned this company for 20 years and I have never seen anything as brutal as this.

"I don't know what happened but I do know that Arshad was a non-confrontational person."

Ms Bott said: "We realise that this case has had a massive impact on the community where Arshad's family live. I would like to take this opportunity to reassure them that an extremely thorough and detailed investigation is being carried out in order to trace whoever is responsible for this horrific crime.

"Everything that can be done is being done and we will not rest until this offender is brought to justice."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police at Redditch on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.