‘Uncontrollable’ taxi driver killed Briton on Greek holiday

Robert Sebbage, 18, from Tadley, Basingstoke, Hampshire, was killed on the island of Zante on July 13.

He was on holiday with eight friends when he was killed during their last night out when the group got into an argument with two taxi drivers. Four others were also stabbed.

The inquest at Basingstoke heard how the group had been out for drinks and were walking to a McDonald’s restaurant when they were followed by two taxis.

The front taxi “nudged” the leg of one, Callum Lane, leading him to sit on the bonnet and banter being passed between the group.

The inquest was told that the group had witnessed a drunk being sick in the same taxi earlier in the week and they had created a chant of the driver’s words “Get out of my car” which they then began to sing again that night.

After that taxi driver had driven off, the friends got their food and as they sat on the kerb to eat it, they noticed that the driver of the second taxi had pulled over and was staring at them.

The driver then confronted the group, particularly Mr Sebbage and Jordan Manson, and threatened them with a baseball bat.

Steven Granstone said: “Rob was jumping up and down, he was probably winding the guy up but he didn’t deserve what happened to him.”

A laser pen was then shone at the driver and the group continued shouting at the driver who returned and began attacking them.

Mr Granstone said that Mr Manson, who suffered serious chest and stomach wounds, was the first to be attacked followed by Mr Sebbage.

Describing the taxi driver, he added: “He was uncontrollable.”

Mr Lane, who suffered a stab wound to his lower abdomen, said he saw the taxi driver clenching a 4in flick-knife with the blade protruding between his fingers.

Recording a verdict of unlawful killing, North Hampshire Coroner Andrew Bradley praised the group of friends for their bravery and said that Mr Sebbage died from a single stab wound to the heart.

The Reading fan had with a rare bowel condition and walked out as England mascot at Wembley with David Beckham in June 2007.

Taxi driver Stelios Morfis, 21, has been charged with the murder of Mr Sebbage. Another man, Dimosthenes Mylonas, 25, has been charged as an accomplice.