The man accused of murdering his pregnant partner and burying her body in a shallow grave behind his Chelsea Park, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, home was on Wednesday remanded to prison after making his first court appearance.
Twenty-four-year-old porter Travis James appeared before the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of his pregnant partner, Kerryann Standford.
The charge alleges that he murdered 20-year-old Standford of Ann’s Gove, East Coast Demerara, between July 1 and July 10, 2026, at Chelsea Park, Mahaica.
As the offence is indictable, James was not required to enter a plea.
He was remanded to prison until August 3.
Police said Standford left her home at Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, on July 3 after telling relatives she was going to visit James at Chelsea Park, Mahaica.
After a few days passed without Standford returning home or responding to repeated phone calls, her relatives reported her missing to the police.
During the course of the investigation, detectives acted on information that led them to the property, where they uncovered the young woman’s body buried in a shallow grave behind the residence.
Further intelligence subsequently led investigators to the suspect, who was located at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, arrested and taken into police custody.
A post-mortem examination has confirmed that Standford died from asphyxia and severe spinal injuries.
The couple shared a child together.
