Detectives eager to trace caller
POLICE investigating the murder of Birmingham taxi driver Mohammed Arshad have made a fresh plea for witnesses after confirming that a call to the taxi driver’s firm came from a telephone kiosk in Kings Norton.
Detectives are still trying to trace a man, calling himself Peter, who made a call to Arshad’s firm A Cars, from the kiosk outside the Spar store at the junction of Lindsworth Approach and Monyhull Hall Road, at about 8.20pm on Wednesday, July 22.
He asked for a taxi to pick him up from outside Broadmeadow School in Monyhull Hall Road, which is about 300 yards away.
It is believed he was picked up by Mr Arshad’s blue Ford Galaxy people carrier outside the school gates a short time later.
Mr Arshad was found stabbed in Wast Hills Lane, Kings Norton, at around 8.40pm and died later in hospital. His taxi was found abandoned a short time later in Shannon Road.
The fresh appeal comes a day after detectives appealed to two joggers who were seen in the area to get in touch.
Officers are hoping the two white males, neither of whom were wearing tops, may have seen something that could help the murder investigation.
Detective Superintendent Sheila Thornes, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are appealing for any witnesses who were in the Monyhull Hall Road area near the Spar shop or in the vicinity of the school between 8.15pm and 8.30pm that evening who may have seen someone either at the kiosk or standing around near the school gates.
“We know that there was traffic in the area at the time and I am asking anyone who was using that route to think back to that Wednesday night. The school was obviously closed at that time so it may be that they noticed a taxi pulling up near the gates and someone waiting for it.
“Every little piece of information we receive is important to us so I would urge anyone who remembers anything at all to get in touch with us now.”
Witnesses and anyone else with information should call the Major Incident Room at Redditch Police Station on 0300 333 3000 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
