A total of 43 witnesses are expected to testify before the Demerara High Court in the murder trial of young teacher, Kescia Branche, who was allegedly killed by a 51-year-old taxi driver in 2017.

Matthew Monroe, who was charged for the murder is now expected to stand trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12 member jury on September 15.  September 6 was initially fixed for the commencement of the trial.

Last month, Monroe was arraigned before Justice Kissoon and pleaded not guilty to killing Branche on November 7, 2017 at Georgetown.

The state is being represented by prosecutors, Seeta Bissoondial and Lisa Cave while attorneys-at-law, Dexter Todd, Anastasia Sanford and Dexter Smartt are on record for the accused.

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. She was found in an unconscious state in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row in the city 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 Corporation (GPHC) two days later. A post-mortem examination revealed that she died as a result of brain haemorrhage.

During the investigation, three suspects who were being questioned regarding the death of Branche, were released. At the time of the trio’s release, the police were seeking to contact the taxi driver whose cell phone number appeared repeatedly on Branche’s mobile device.

The taxi driver’s car was impounded at the Brickdam Police Station, subsequent to his reported departure from the country, after Branche was found in an unconscious state. Investigators are of the opinion that the driver may have been the last person to see the teacher alive.