Taxi driver traumatised after stabbing

File photo / Herald on Sunday

A Wellington taxi driver repeatedly stabbed at the weekend is still in shock and struggling emotionally, a relative says.

Shlemon Yako, 60, from Baghdad, Iraq, was stabbed in the chest and abdomen by a man he picked up during the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Kiwi Cabs driver picked up the man at the Bay Road taxi stand in Kilbirnie and drove him to Shropshire Avenue in Wilton, where he was attacked.

"Psychologically he's not well, he's still in shock because he was pretty lucky to survive," Mr Yako's relative, Mike Oraha, told NZPA today.

"He can walk, he can talk, he can have something to eat, so he's recovering pretty well but ... on the emotional side he's not that well."

Mr Yako attempted to fight off his attacker, who he believed may have been on drugs.

"He beat the guy pretty well, you know, while he was stabbing him, he fought back for his life. He told me that he got a really good punch in his (the attacker's) face," Mr Oraha said.

"You can actually tell by his right hand, it looks pretty swollen. I think he's pretty much ok, he's pretty brave, otherwise he wouldn't have survived."

Mr Yako planned to return to work but only during the day.

He believed a screen or cage to separate a driver from passengers would help prevent future attacks, Mr Oraha said.

Kiwi Cabs manager Ninos Zaya said all cab stands should have cameras.

Taxi stands in the suburbs - particularly Bay Road and Newtown - were a problem for taxi drivers because passengers had not phoned in a pick-up or drop-off address, he said.

"Especially at nighttime on the weekends, we have no defence on customers, we don't know who the customers are," he told NZPA.

All taxis in larger cities have to be fitted with an internal camera after a law change last year.

However, Mr Zaya said this was not enough.

"I'm really with the camera in the car...but if there's no camera outside the taxi it's not going to help.

"We don't know who is (entering) from outside, before he comes in."

Police said no arrests had been made and inquiries were continuing.

- NZPA