Murder case against constable in Buju Bulgin shooting moves to St James Circuit Court

WESTERN BUREAU: The murder prosecution against Constable Andrew Wilson, the police officer accused of killing Granville resident Latoya 'Buju' Bulgin, has been elevated from the St James Parish Court to the St James Circuit Court. He is due to take his first step before the circuit court on Monday.

Wilson, who was charged after a ruling from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), received notice of the transfer and his next court date when he appeared before St James Parish Court Judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce yesterday. His $1-million bail was renewed.

At the short hearing, Wilson, represented by defence attorney Michael Hemmings, was advised that a nolle prosequi had been entered. That step ends the matter at the parish court stage and clears the way for it to proceed directly in the circuit court. A case management hearing is also fixed for Monday.

"We usually do what is called a committal procedure here. That is, the judge of this court peruses the file and determines whether or not there is enough evidence on the file for the matter to be transferred to the circuit court. In this matter, we are not carrying out that procedure," Grant-Pryce told Wilson.

"The matter is going directly to the circuit court, where the matter will be dealt with at that level. So, you will come back to this court on July 13 with the understanding that a voluntary bill will place you before the court on July 13," Grant-Pryce added.

Bulgin, who lived in Granville, was reportedly shot dead while she took part in a protest organised to draw attention to the death of her 17-year-old cousin, who had been killed a week earlier in an incident that also involved the police.

After the May 17 shooting, Wilson was arrested and charged on June 3. He appeared before the St James Parish Court for the first time later that day, following an ODPP decision on May 29 that he should face prosecution.

CCTV footage that circulated widely on social media showed a policeman firing into the vehicle in which Bulgin was seated behind the steering wheel.

The episode, including the reported placing of Bulgin's body into a police van, drew strong public anger and fuelled heated demonstrations by Granville residents. The People's National Party Women's Movement and the Watchmen Church Leaders Alliance were among those who condemned the shooting.

At Wilson's first court appearance on June 3, Hemmings contended that his client had been acting in self-defence at the time of the incident.