Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN

This is the moment a karate expert allegedly beats a taxi driver to death – punching and kicking the 52-year-old him whilst he cowers on the ground.

The fatal attack took place last week in the city of Ensenada, in the eastern Argentine province of Buenos Aires and was recorded by CCTV cameras.

In the video, Jorge Gomez, a 52-year-old taxi driver, can be seen coming to a halt at a crossroads and he gets out of his cab to argue with 23-year-old karate expert Esteban Gonzalez Zablocki. It is not known why the men were arguing.

Video Credit: CEN

In the video, the two men can be seen coming together after their cars crossed in the street and the younger man begins kicking and punching the taxi driver.

The cabbie is then thrown to the ground and his attacker then punches him a reported eight times on the head before giving him a kick.

The aggressor then walks back to his vehicle whilst the taxi driver gingerly gets to his feet. 

Local media report taxi driver Gomez was taken to the Cestino Hospital in Ensenada and he was declared brain dead shortly after. 

Suspect Zablocki was identified and arrested a few hours after the attack but he released as the judge who is instructing the case, Juan Pablo Massi, said: “The prosecutor included ‘cruelty’ but this crime hadn’t been planned. When I released him I was only applying the law and I had to respect his presumption of innocence.”

However, the victim was then transferred to another hospital where his death was confirmed two days after the attack.

The suspect was then re-arrested after the victim’s death and has reportedly refused to testify on the advice of his lawyers, the defenders Jose Maria Villada and Juan Gabriel Mendy. He remains in police custody.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear and the victim’s niece Rocio told local media: “It happened to him because he had the misfortune to cross paths with him.”

The judge agreed, saying: “I do not think this was prepared in advance.”

The case is ongoing and it is unclear if the suspect has been charged.

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