THREE people accused of murdering a Hull father who was beaten to death ordered a taxi driver to speed away from the scene, a court has heard.
Steven Herbert, 34, was beaten to death in the early hours of New Year's Day at the junction of Beverley Road and Trafalgar Street.
He had been walking to a party with six others, when they became involved in a fight with another group of people.
Soul Humphries and Samuel Jordan, both 22, and Tiffany Clark, 23, admit being involved in the confrontation but deny murder.
Private hire driver Helal Ahmed told their trial at Hull Crown Court that he picked up two women on Beverley Road shortly after 6am on New Year's Day.
He said: "I told them I couldn't drive without a previous booking and said it's not legal.
"They were angry and ordering me to move fast. They looked nervous and said, 'go quickly'."
He said one of the women told him to turn his car round and head towards a side street near the Raj Pavilion restaurant.
Mr Ahmed said: "I turned round my car and carried on driving. I thought they would assault me. Then I picked up two more people, two lads got in.
"I told them that I couldn't move without a previous booking. They were angry and told me to quickly. They were shouting at me.
"I was very afraid, so I listened to them and continued driving."
He said one of the women directed him to Victor Street in east Hull, where he dropped them off and left without asking them for a fare.
"They told me to stop the car and they got out very quickly," he said.
"I was scared so I didn't say anything. I locked my car and started to move."
The court has previously heard the taxi was seen on CCTV travelling along Freetown Way, Holderness Road, Witham, and New Bridge Road before arriving in Victor Street.
Mr Ahmed confirmed he did not report it to his taxi firm or police until days later.
The trial continues, with the prosecution case expected to conclude today.
