Minibus driver faces High Court trial over woman’s death

February 9 2026

A minibus driver accused of killing one of his passengers is now standing trial in the Georgetown High Court, where medical and video evidence has begun unfolding before a judge and jury.

Travis Gordon Benjamin appeared before Justice Gino Persaud as the prosecution continued its case into the death of Vanessa Bishop.

Two medical professionals, including Government Pathologist Dr. Nehul Singh, took the stand and detailed the injuries Bishop sustained.

The doctors told the court that the trauma observed could be consistent with several possible scenarios, including an assault, a vehicular impact, or a fall from a significant height.

Prosecutors also introduced four video recordings said to show a yellow minibus travelling from Soesdyke Junction through the B and E Field, Sophia, route.

The vehicle is alleged to have been operated by Benjamin.

However, under questioning from defence attorney Candice Nelson, the police officer who retrieved and submitted the footage acknowledged that the recordings did not clearly reveal the identity of the driver.

He further admitted he could not say how many passengers were inside the bus at the time.

The court heard that Bishop and Benjamin were strangers.

Investigators allege that on the night of September 25, 2020, Bishop boarded the minibus after finishing work at Peter’s Hall on the East Bank of Demerara at around 10:00 pm.

According to the prosecution, she never disembarked that evening — a position that conflicts with earlier statements attributed to Benjamin.

Nearly two days later, during the early hours of September 27, 2020, Bishop was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in a confused and disoriented condition, bearing multiple injuries.

Despite receiving medical attention, she later died.

Benjamin was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.

The trial will continue before the court this week.

The Linden resident, of Central Amelia’s Ward, was first brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where then Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan informed him of the indictable charge.

He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded to prison pending the High Court proceedings.