Gisèle Minhas, 32, was the mother of three boys aged 14, 11 and nine. She had recently remarried and her new husband Naseem had been driving for Air Cab for about a year. In June, 2004 she too decided to try cab driving to earn some extra money. She quickly came to love the job. Ms Minhas's mother, Roseline Martin, spoke to her daughter at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30. Ms Minhas had worked 21 straight nights since she joined Air Cab and told her mother that the next shift would be her last before taking the weekend off. She said, 'I love you Mom.' And I said, 'I love you too.' And that's the last time I talked to her. At midnight Ms Minhas took over her husband's taxi. At about 4:30 on the morning of Canada Day, July 1, 2004, she was driving with a fare along Champlain Street when she passed two young men who tried to flag her down. After dropping off her passenger she drove back so see if the young men wanted a ride. This turned out to be a fatal decision. The two young men, aged 18 and 20, were determined to commit an armed robbery. The 20-year-old had stolen a 45-calibre pistol from his mother but it was the 18-year-old who actually carried out the planned holdup. His motive was to get money to pay off a drug debt. The two directed Ms Minhas to an apartment building on Gauvin Road in the neighbouring city of Dieppe. When they arrived the 20-year-old got out of the taxi, ostensibly to get cab fare from the apartment but really to act as a lookout while the 18-year-old robbed Ms Minhas. Instead, the 18-year-old pressed the gun barrel to the back of Ms Minhas's head and pulled the trigger. She died instantly. The two then drove the taxi to the parking lot behind the aparment block, robbed Ms. Minhas of $160 and divided her money. The 20-year-old took $40. They left her body lying on the ground and drove the taxi to a bowling alley where they abandoned it, but not before pushing the car into a small ditch with the headlights on. The men briefly returned to the scene of the crime to retrieve a knife and then went to a party. After the party they spent some time at a friend's house before splitting up. The 20-year-old watched a Canada Day fireworks display before returning home. [Next column]

Gisèle Minhas in her wedding dress. (Source: Rosaline Durelle, St John Telegraph Journal, Feb. 23, 2020) Gisèle Minhas's body was discovered in the parking lot at about 5:20 a.m. on Canada Day. Her taxi was located soon afterward. The 18-year-old was taken into custody early Friday morning, July 2. The 20-year-old was arrested in Sackville the same day. Both were initially charged with second-degree murder. On Tuesday, July 6 a Catholic funeral service was held for Gisèle Minhas in Baie Ste. Anne, her original home. A Muslim service was held later the same day. More than 70 taxis from Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton joined the funeral procession. In May, 2005 the 20-year-old accomplice was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in jail. In June, 2005 the 18-year-old killer was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 14 years. In 2020 he was deemed a "moderate" risk for violence and was granted day parole.