Jamaican police officer charged with murder after woman shot during protest

Authorities in Jamaica have charged a police officer with murder after he was accused of shooting a 45-year-old woman during a protest. Indecom said Constable Andrew Wilson appeared in court on Wednesday and was denied bail; another hearing is scheduled for mid-June.

The killing of Latoya “Buju” Bulgin on 17 May in north-west Jamaica sparked violent protests after footage circulated showing an officer firing at her vehicle during a demonstration over police violence. Indecom said police were conducting crowd control duties during a protest in Granville, St James, about a police shooting days earlier in which 17-year-old Tjey Edwards, identified by local media as Bulgin’s cousin, was killed.

CCTV footage shows Bulgin’s minivan stationary at the side of the road as several people climb out and officers stand nearby. With one side door open, the van began to pull into the road and an officer standing a few feet in front of the vehicle pulled a handgun and shot at the driver amid screams; some people are seen running.

Jamaica, Granville, St James

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