Jamaican police officer charged with murder after woman shot during protest

Andrew Wilson appears in court over killing of Latoya Bulgin at protest over a police shooting days earlier

Authorities in Jamaica have taken the rare step of charging a police officer with murder after he was accused of shooting a 45-year-old woman in a case that prompted violent protests.

According to the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom), 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 protests after footage circulated on social media showing an officer firing at her vehicle during a demonstration over police violence.

According to Indecom, police were “conducting crowd control duties” during a protest in Granville, St James, against a police shooting days earlier, in which 17-year-old Tjey Edwards, identified by local media as Bulgin’s cousin, was killed.

In the CCTV footage, Bulgin’s minivan is seen stationary at the side of the road as several people climb out. Police officers can be seen standing nearby. With one of the side doors still open, the vehicle starts to pull out into the road.

Apparently without warning, an officer standing a few feet in front of the vehicle pulls a handgun and shoots at the driver, amid screams and cries from people nearby. Some people are seen running.

Police officers are seen dragging Bulgin’s limp body out of the car and on to the ground and putting her in the back of a police pickup truck. The officers do not appear to make any attempt to offer first aid to the injured woman.