Michael Bishop and Shawn Edinboro were yesterday afternoon both acquitted of the 2014 murder of taxi driver Raphael Campbell.
Following hours of deliberations, a jury returned its unanimous verdict, acquitting both men who were visibly relieved.
Each said they were speechless, but expressed gratitude to their attorneys and even the prosecutor.
Justice Brassington Reynolds informed the men that they were free to go, but not before cautioning them, to take their experiences as learning lessons and to make the right choices moving forward, especially since they are still pretty young.
To both men who nodded in agreement, the judge also impressed upon them not to be found on the wrong side of the law ever again.
Bishop was represented by attorney Bernard Da Silva, while Edinboro was represented by attorney Latchmie Rahamat.
The state’s case was presented by Prosecutor Seeta Bishundial.
The two had been jointly charged with the murder along with Shawn Collins.
In November of last year, however, Collins was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Campbell’s bloody, battered body was found on the morning of January 3rd, 2014 at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
The Beterverwagting resident had remained unidentified until days later, when police intercepted a car on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway with five men inside.
It was at this point that police were able to put the pieces of the puzzle together, making a link between the car and Campbell. Campbell had rented the car and was using it as a taxi.
He had reportedly picked up the men, but when they arrived at their destination there was an argument and Campbell was badly beaten, stabbed and shot in the head.
Police had said that based on information gathered the men had hired Campbell to take them to a location but after they arrived they had a dispute with Campbell over the fare that should be paid.
Lawmen had said that it was around this time that Campbell, a father of two was beaten to the point where most of his teeth fell out and his face was left bashed in. The men left Campbell lying on the roadway and drove off in the black Premio motor car.
An autopsy had revealed that Campbell died as a result of gunshot injuries to the head.
