Hamilton sentencing again delayed

Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator

The sentencing of former police constable Rushon Hamilton has been again been put off.

Justice Lloyd Hibbert should have sentenced Hamilton in the Home Circuit Court this morning but the court was informed that the prosecution was not available.

Hamilton’s lawyer Valerie Neita Robertson told the court that she needs time to have an independent clinical psychiatrist evaluate the former policeman.

Sentencing was then rescheduled for February 22.

Hamilton was found guilty by a 12-member jury last October for the murder of 14-year-old schoolgirl, Jhaneel Goulbourne.

The prosecution is seeking the death penalty.

During the trial, several prosecution witnesses testified that while they were in custody with Hamilton, he confessed that in 2008, he shot the teenage girl and dumped her body at sea.

However, the former policeman denied the allegation in his unsworn statement.

The crown had argued that Goulbourne was sexually molested on October 4, 2008, at the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston.

It further said that a report was made to the police on October 10, 2008 and the girl subsequently went missing from her home in Harbour View, St Andrew.

It is alleged that she was standing at her gate when she was taken away.

Hamilton was initially charged with carnal abuse and indecent assault of the teen.

However, a murder charge was added after the child disappeared.

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barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com