A 31-year-old Albanian man has been cleared of attempted murder charges at Oxford Crown Court following an incident that left a 28-year-old Kurdish hairdresser with serious injuries.
Romario Qatja, from Pipkin Way in Oxford, struck Rabar Pirot with a Mercedes vehicle on September 13 the previous year in the St Clement’s area of the city.
The collision occurred while Mr Pirot was socialising with companions during an evening outing.
The jury delivered verdicts on the most serious charge, unanimously determining that Qatja was not guilty of attempted murder.
However, the same panel found him guilty of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, alongside an additional count of affray.
Emergency services attended the scene following the collision.
Investigators subsequently gathered witness testimony and closed-circuit television footage from the surrounding area.
The injured man was transferred to hospital for treatment.
During sentencing discussions, Mr Pirot described how the vehicle approached at considerable speed with a loud engine before making contact.
He explained that the impact threw him against the rear of the car and his head struck the windscreen, causing it to shatter.
According to his account, he believes the driver intended to cause fatal harm.
Friends who witnessed the incident intervened to prevent a second impact by pulling Mr Pirot from the vehicle’s path.
Qatja faced multiple charges stemming from the same court proceedings, including wounding with intent in addition to the attempted murder allegation.
The jury ultimately convicted him only on the dangerous driving and affray offences.
Mr Pirot outlined the ongoing difficulties he experiences since the attack, requiring daily medication just to complete essential tasks.
Despite attending work, the gym and swimming facilities, he continues suffering from severe headaches, nausea and dizziness.
The prescribed medication has caused stomach problems and difficulties with eating.
While mobility has returned to the extent that walking is possible, running remains impossible.
The head injury sustained in the collision continues producing persistent headaches even twelve months later.
The collision occurred in the early hours following a large-scale fight outside Hank’s Bar on Queen Street.
Several other individuals faced separate charges in connection with the same evening’s disturbances.
Among those prosecuted, Samyan Khdir, aged 22, received a conviction for possessing a sword.
Eyub Hussani, 26, was found guilty of carrying a wooden implement.
Arger Poleshi, 20, Armanto Tzourtzi, 24, and Indrit Ndoj, 35, were each convicted of affray.
Fiqiri Noka, 27, and Gabriel Dos Santos, 28, were acquitted of the affray charge.