Townsville taxi driver held at knifepoint grabbed attacker “by the neck”

A young man who pulled a knife on a 45-year-old taxi driver ended up losing the fight, falling from the taxi, dropping ID, and being punched by a West End Hotel patron – all in quick order.

Diana Cavanagh has been driving cabs in Townsville for 35 years and not happy Uber is coming to town. Picture: Evan Morgan

A young man who pulled a knife on a 45-year-old taxi driver, ended up losing the fight, falling from the taxi, losing his ID, and being punched by a West End Hotel patron – all in quick order.

Jordan Michael Murison, 22, pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery in Townsville District Court on Thursday, November 7.

The court heard on New Year’s Eve, around 8.40pm, Murison organised for a taxi to pick him up in Douglas and take him to the West End Hotel.

Crown prosecutor Grace Ollason said the pair did not speak during the drive, except at the end, when Murison asked the driver to take him to the rear car park.

“It’s there where he pulled out a Stanley knife and demanded money,” Ms Ollason said.

The West End Hotel, where a taxi driver fought back when his passenger attempted to rob him armed with a knife.

Ms Ollason said the taxi driver pushed Murison away, “grabbed hold of him by the neck” and yelled at him to get out of the car.

As Murison went to comply, the taxi driver accelerated causing Murison to fall from the moving vehicle.

The taxi driver then went to the front of the hotel and asked for assistance.

“That’s when (Murison) can be seen running back to the taxi and rummaging around the driver’s side,” Ms Ollason said.

“A patron from the hotel then involved himself and told Murison to get out of the car, and when he didn’t do so, he punched him.”

The court heard Murison tried to explain he was looking for his bag, which was still in the car.

He eventually left the scene, and a police search located the bag belonging to Murison still in the taxi which contained electric scales, a glass pipe, syringes, and ID, including Murison’s parole and probation letters.

Judge David Kent advised Murison that armed robbery “doesn’t seem to be an occupation you’re well suited to”.

“Identification documents are not a good thing to take with you when committing a robbery,” Judge Kent told the 22-year-old.

Police located Murison nine weeks after the failed robbery, on February 24, and he was arrested and denied bail.

The maximum penalty for attempted armed robbery is 14 years.

Judge Kent sentenced Murison to two years imprisonment for the armed robbery, and activated the three year suspended sentence Murison was on when the robbery occurred, resulting in a five-year sentence.

Taking into account the 253 days he’s already spent in prison waiting to appear in court, Murison was granted a parole eligibility date of October 27, 2025.

Originally published as Townsville taxi driver held at knifepoint grabbed attacker “by the neck”