Cabbie beaten in St. John's, forefinger and thumb severed

A taxi driver who hadbeen attending university in St. John's since arriving from Pakistan was viciously attacked by a passenger he picked up last weekend.

Police have charged Lucas O'Keefe, 33, of Mount Pearlwith assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats in the attack of a part-time Co-op Taxi driver.

The driver is working on a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering at Memorial University.

According to Co-op Taxigeneral manager Doug McCarthy, the cabbie picked up a man in the downtown area Sunday around 2 a.m. and drove himto the Hamlyn Road area in the city's west end.

McCarthy said the man got out of the cabwithout paying his bill,andwent to a house and started kicking the door.

The driver called the cabcompanytoask for some advice and was told to contact police.

By the time the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary arrived onthe scene, the driverhad been pulled from the car and attacked.

Sources saidit took fiveRNCofficers to get the suspect into a squad car.

The victimhad a forefinger and thumb severed, and his collarbone wasbroken.

McCarthy said because there was damage tothe man's jaw, he is finding it difficult to speak. Heis on a liquid diet because of the beating.

The driver had applied for a visa to the United States, where he was scheduled to give a presentation this week.McCarthy said the presentationcould possibly lead to a scholarship.

McCarthy addedsuchattacks makeit difficult to find drivers to work night shifts. Asenior driver with Co-op Taxi was recently robbed at knife-point andwill now only work day shifts in suburban areas.