A TAXI driver who ran down a rowdy teen passenger was yesterday found guilty of manslaughter.

Xavier Salmon, 17, suffered fatal head injuries when the maxi-cab driven by Rajbinder Singh Shahi, 30, ran him over on Centre Ave, Port Melbourne, in December 2005.

The Supreme Court heard claims Shahi lost his temper with the group after an eventful trip from the CBD and deliberately hit the teenager.

But after two days of deliberations the jury found Shahi, of Epping, not guilty of murder

but convicted him of manslaughter.

The court was told that the trouble began when the seven-seat cab picked up Mr Salmon's group of 11 friends, some drunk, in the CBD about midnight on December 6, 2005.

One passenger started smoking and later, the group abused spin king Shane Warne and pelted his car with lollipops outside Crown casino.

Warne, in France during the trial for the wedding of James Packer and Erica Baxter, had "politely declined" to give evidence via videolink.

The jury was told when Shahi dropped the group off, he argued with Mr Salmon and beer bottles were thrown at the car as he drove off. Prosecutor Andrew Tinney said Shahi made a U-turn and drove at Mr Salmon, hitting him front on.

Mr Salmon died that day in hospital of head injuries.

Shahi drove to the East Melbourne police station to report damage to his taxi from a glass bottle, later admitting he may have hit someone.

Defence lawyer David McKenzie told the jury his client had not intended to kill or seriously injure Mr Salmon.

He said Shahi had feared for his safety.

Justice Bernard Teague remanded Shahi in custody for a pre-sentence hearing.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22053478-2862,00.html