Supreme Court and Dreadlocks Ruling
Three Police Constables who were found guilty of the 2012 shooting death of 16-year-old schoolgirl Vanessa Kirkland were today acquitted of manslaughter charges by the Court of Appeal. Constables Andrewain Smith, Durvin Hayles, and Anna-Kay Bailey were sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison in 2019, walked free today after a panel of three judges highlighted two significant errors by the Supreme Court Judge who presided over their trial.
On March 20, 2012, 16-year-old Vanessa Kirkland was shot to death on Norman Lane, Kingston 13. Three police officers argued they were acting in self defence, when they opened fire at the blue Suzuki Swift motor car Kirkland was in. Subsequently, in 2019, the trio was sentenced – a sentence their attorneys characterized as excessive. They sought an appeal and were successful on Monday when the case along with the sentence was dismissed.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn, says the dismissal was unavoidable as critical errors were made during the trial, particularly the good character direction and no solid evidence pointing to manslaughter.
Reporter: Natalia Clarke
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