Cops convicted of killed 16-y-o acquitted

The three police constables who were convicted in the 2012 shooting death of 16-year-old schoolgirl, Vanessa Kirkland, were acquitted in the Court of Appeal on Monday.

Adrewain Smith, Durvin Hayles and Ana-Kay Bailey walked free after a panel of three judges pointed to several errors by the Supreme Court judge who presided over their murder trial.

The three were convicted of manslaughter in 2019 and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The cops, who were assigned to the then Mobile Reserve, were arrested and charged with murder and wounding with intent following a ruling from the director of public prosecutions.

The Immaculate Conception High School student was shot and killed on March 20, 2012, on Norman Lane, Kingston 13, about 9 p.m.

The prosecutor led evidence during the trial that the cops drove on to Norman Lane in Kingston on the night in question and fired on a blue Suzuki Swift motor car that was parked along the road.

Kirkland and six other occupants who were inside the car were shot.

The teenager subsequently died.

Lawyers who represented the policemen had argued that they were acting in self-defence when they discharged their weapons.

They maintained that they were searching for the vehicle after they were alerted that occupants of the car had robbed a man of his cell phone.

The cops said they were fired on by two men inside the car.

Following their convictions, the cops filed an appeal.

They argued, among other things, that the sentence was manifestly excessive.

More to come. 

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