SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) 鈥� Authorities in Jamaica have taken the rare step of charging a police officer with murder after he was accused of fatally shooting a 45-year-old woman in a case that has prompted violent protests.
The officer appeared in court on Wednesday and was denied bail. Another hearing is scheduled for mid-June.
Security forces in Jamaica have long been accused of unlawful killings and using excessive force, with the island鈥檚 Independent Commission of Investigations reporting 140 fatal shootings so far this year on the island of 2.8 million people.
The killing of Latoya 鈥淏uju鈥� Bulgin on May 17 in northwest Jamaica sparked violent protests, with residents in the town of Granville demanding justice.
Local media reported that Bulgin was helping organize a demonstration over the recent police killing of a 17-year-old boy identified as her cousin.
No body camera was worn by the police officer accused of shooting Bulgin while she was in her car, but the People鈥檚 National Party Women鈥檚 Movement, a political group, said in a statement that CCTV footage 鈥渞aises serious questions about the use of lethal force by members of the security forces.鈥�
The group also said it was 鈥渄isturbing鈥� how Bulgin鈥檚 body was thrown into the back of a police vehicle after she was shot.
鈥淭his conduct falls below the respect that should be afforded to our citizens by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force,鈥� the group said in a statement.
The Inter American Commission of Human Rights has denounced Bulgin鈥檚 killing, urging 鈥渁 prompt, independent, impartial and transparent inquiry.鈥�
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