Goonellabah man, Daniel Basinauro, bashes taxi driver in ‘terrifying’ attempted robbery

“Taxi drivers rely on the honesty and integrity of the people they pick up”: Why one Northern Rivers man subjected a cabbie to a horror assault.

Daniel Basinauro was sentenced on Wednesday, July 28.

A Goonellabah man will face 18 months jail time for beating up a Lismore taxi driver after a failed drug-fuelled robbery.

Daniel Basinauro, 30, pleaded guilty to four offences in Lismore Local Court on Wednesday, July 28.

They included assault with the intent to rob, possessing ammunition without a permit, possessing a prohibited drug and a separate contravention of an AVO.

According to police facts, the charges relate to an offence dating back to November 9, 2020.

Police allege at 6.10pm that day, a Lismore Taxis driver picked up Basinauro who asked to be taken to Campbell Crescent, Goonellabah.

When the ride was finished, the driver stated the fare, to which Basinauro said he would get out to give it to him.

Upon reaching the driver’s side, Basinauro ripped open the door and said “you f*****g idiot, you have to give me all your money or I’ll kill you”.

The driver protested he didn’t have any money and grabbed a bag containing AirPods and $250 worth of Lismore Taxis change.

Basinauro reached in and punched the driver in the head while trying to steal the bag.

Dazed and scared, driver was able to hold onto the bag and accelerated away from Basinauro.

Police later stopped Basinauro on December 2 and arrested him.

They found ammunition and 30g of cannabis in his possession at that time.

Basinauro’s solicitor Hannah Donaldson said the attack wasn’t premeditated.

“His only intention was to rob the driver at the conclusion of the trip and fuel his drug use at the time,” she said.

The DPP prosecutor asked Magistrate Jeff Linden to take into account the “vulnerable condition” of the taxi driver at the time.

In his sentencing, Magistrate Linden said the driver had only been employed for three months when he encountered the “terrifying” attack.

“Taxi drivers rely on the honesty and integrity of the people they pick up,” he said.

“In this instance, not only was the payment not forthcoming, this defendant effectively attacked the driver seeking to obtain a bag of money held by the victim.”
He convicted Basinauro for the assault with intent to rob, sentencing him to 18 months jail, with a non-parole period of two months.

For the remaining matters, he was convicted but not further punished and ordered to forfeit the ammunition.