Serial criminal jailed for Dundee taxi driver murder

A serial criminal who murdered a taxi driver in an unprovoked attack after he failed to give him a cigarette has been jailed for a minimum of 16 years.

Steven Greig was already in prison for seriously assaulting Mark Ward, 55, by pushing him down a hill in Dundee on 6 April 2022.

But he was re-prosecuted for murder after Mr Ward - who was so severely injured he required round-the-clock care - died a day before the first anniversary of the attack.

The court heard previously that 47-year-old Greig had 189 previous convictions.

Greig was originally jailed in January 2023 for five years and four months after admitting assaulting Mr Ward to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and danger of his life in the attack at Coupar Angus Road, Dundee.

He denied murdering Mr Ward, but was found guilty after a jury rejected his claim that he should be convicted of the lesser offence of culpable homicide.

Greig had been freed under five separate bail orders at Dundee Sheriff Court when he carried out the fatal attack.

The court heard that he had come across Mr Ward charging his taxi, and asked him for a cigarette.

When Mr Ward refused, Greig pushed his victim down an embankment, where he struck his head, before the killer kicked and stamped on the taxi driver.

Judge Lady Drummond said: "You immediately then walked away without stopping or showing any concern for him."

She said the injuries he sustained and his subsequent death had "a devastating impact" on relatives of the deceased who was a much loved man.

Lady Drummond told Greig, who followed the sentencing proceedings via a video link from prison, that a background report assessed him as posing a very high risk of reoffending.

She added: "The author notes you have shown no meaningful remorse for your actions."

Defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson KC said Greig was previously assaulted which had caused him problems in his life and he may be suffering from complex PTSD.