THE preliminary inquiry before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman into the death of schoolteacher, Kescia Branche, was adjourned until May 29.

Currently on remand for the indictable offence is 47-year-old taxi driver, Matthew Munroe. So far a total of two witnesses have given evidence. They are Police Sergeant Rawle Nedd, who is stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary and is attached to the Crime Lab. The other is Police photographer, Constable Osafo Felix.
Branche, a mother of one, who resided in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was last seen alive on November 4, 2017, when she left for a night-out with her friends.

However, her unconscious body was found in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row the following day. Her left leg was broken and there was evidence that she had sustained multiple head injuries.

The Richard Ishmael Secondary School teacher died at the Georgetown Public Hospital two days after she was found battered. A post-mortem indicated that she died as a result of brain haemorrhage.

During the investigation, three suspects were questioned and released. The father of Branche’s three-year-old son was released on November 14 and placed on station bail, along with two police constables.

The constables were later charged departmentally for neglect of duty, consuming liquor while on duty, improperly entering licensed premises and acting in a manner likely to bring discredit to the reputation of the Force.

At the time of the trio’s release, the police were seeking to contact a taxi driver whose cell phone number appeared repeatedly on Branche’s mobile device. His vehicle was subsequently impounded at the Brickdam Police Station,

When arrested, the taxi driver had claimed that his car was involved in an accident after he drove into a pothole, but according to a police report, the damage to the car was consistent with the injuries Branche received.

Investigators are of the opinion that the driver may have been the last person to see the teacher alive.