Freed taxi driver calls for fresh probe into Kescia Branche’s murder

Matthew Munroe, the 52-year-old taxi driver who was charged with the 2017 murder of schoolteacher Kescia Branche, is calling for a fresh investigation to be conducted into the murder, now that he has been freed.

Last week, hours after his trial commenced for the murder to the 22-year-old teacher, Munroe was freed when the prosecution could not locate the key witnesses in the case.

During a press conference on Monday, Munroe maintained his innocence and said that he was kept in prison wrongfully over the last five years.

He also highlighted that he was abused by police officers, intent on forcing him to confess to the murder.

But now that he has been freed, the man is calling for a fresh probe in Branche’s demise so that both he and her family can get much-needed justice and closure.

“It’s not fair for her and it’s not fair for me (because) I was taken away from my family for five years.

“The re-opening of the case is something I would love to happen,” a tearful Munroe said.

Asked if he had plans to sue the state for his five-year imprisonment and alleged abuse, the man only said that he was “talking about it” with his legal team.

At the press conference, his attorney Dexter Todd, emphasised that Munroe and his legal team are keen on influencing investigators to re-open the case.

“A lot of the energy is partnering with the state towards bettering the system. We just can’t allow this one to go,” Todd said.

The lawyer also lamented Munroe’s prolonged detention in what he termed was the absence of “credible evidence”.

He also rebuffed assertions that the key witnesses could have been instrumental in prosecuting Munroe.

Todd said that the case was entirely circumstantial and could not link the murder to Munroe. And as such, Todd and his legal team are hoping to “partner with the state towards bettering the system”.

“Too many matters go before our courts that were not properly investigated and what we have is that before long, the matters fall through the court.

“As in this matter, there was absolutely no evidence from the beginning,” Todd emphasised.

Branche, who was a teacher at the Richard Ishmael Secondary School, died at the Georgetown Public Hospital on November 7, 2017. She was found unconscious at the corner of Louisa Row and Princes Street, Georgetown, on November 5, 2017.

An autopsy on the young woman found that she died as a result of blunt trauma to the head and haemorrhage. The injuries were consistent with her either jumping or being pushed from a moving vehicle.