THE widow of murdered taxi driver Tariq Javed says she could never forgive the killers.

Naheed Javed said: "My husband suffered a violent and brutal death and I will never be able to forgive those responsible.

"We were a very happy and close family but since my husband's death it is as though we have all died.

"Our lives will never be the same again and all we can do is take one day at a time."

Mark Baker and his friend Jason Power were jailed for life yesterday for murdering father-of-four Tariq Javed.

Power and Baker had refused to pay the £2 fare following a drinking spree. They dragged 46-year-old Mr Javed from his cab and then punched, kicked and stamped on him as he lay defenceless on the ground. They then got into the taxi and reversed it over his unconscious body.

A witness thought the cab wheels were going to go over Mr Javed's his head, but instead they went over one of his legs. He died within minutes from his injuries.

Baker, of Kingfisher Drive, Bury, who had been celebrating his 21st birthday on the night of the attack, and 30-year-old Power, of Parsonage Street, Bury, showed no emotion as they were convicted of murder and robbery.

Judge Simon Fawcus told the men at Manchester Crown Court yesterday: "This was a senseless killing which I am satisfied occurred because of the drink you had taken that day.

"It started as a minor piece of dishonesty which, because of the drink, escalated into violence of the most savage sort and resulted in the death of an entirely innocent family man."

Chief Supt Phil Hollowood said: "Mr Javed's murder was a tragedy, not only for his family, but also for his friends within the community."

Mr Javed, who was described as a loving and caring family man, had picked up Baker and Power together with two other men in Bury after the birthday celebrations.

Row

During the journey they decided to run off without paying the fare, but when the cab stopped a row started and Mr Javed was dragged from the vehicle.

Anthony Gee QC, prosecuting, said Baker and Power beat and kicked Mr Javed before both men got back in the taxi with his jacket.

Baker started to drive and a young girl shouted at him because she thought he was going to run over Mr Javed as he lay behind the vehicle. Baker said to her "shut your mouth" and reversed over the victim's body.

Witnesses thought that Baker and Power were laughing as the car was then driven into the car park of Bury's Fairfield Hospital where it smashed through a barrier before being set on fire.

The two men were arrested within days, but gave evidence claiming their only intention was to run off without paying the fare and had not meant to kill or seriously hurt Mr Javed.

Both men also received four years for robbery and their sentences will run concurrently.