Two murder accused left speechless after not guilty verdict; Judge offers advice

Two men who were on trial for the 2014 murder of Raphael Campbell, the taxi driver who was shot dead then dumped at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, were speechless when a jury returned not guilty verdicts after two hours of deliberations.

Shawn Edinboro, a former police constable, and Michael Bishop were on trial for the taxi driver’s murder before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the High Court in Demerara.

Justice Brassington said that he could not let the men go without lending a word of advice.

In doing so, the judge told the former murder accused, “Grab this opportunity with both hands…make the right choices going forward…” Edinboro was expressionless when the jury announced its verdict. As for Bishop, he was reduced to tears. The men had been on remand for seven years on the murder charge.

The joint charge against them stated that between January 2 and January 3, 2014, they murdered 30-year-old Campbell of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara. Following the not guilty verdicts, Justice Reynolds informed the men that they were free to go.

Throughout the trial, Edinboro was represented by Attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat. Bishop was represented by Attorney-at-law Bernard Da Silva.

The case for the prosecution, on the other hand, was presented by State Counsel Tyra Bakker and State Counsel Seeta Bishundial.

Reports are that Campbell picked up some male passengers at Camp Street, Georgetown on January 2, 2014, and took them to the East Coast of Demerara where he was slain and dumped.

It was reported that the taxi driver was savagely beaten and stabbed to the head.

In November 2020, Shawn Collins was sentenced to 10 years’ in jail for the taxi driver’s killing.

Collins who was initially indicted for murder appeared at the Georgetown High Court and pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.