Barbara Gayle, Star Writer

Police constable Rushon Hamilton is to be sentenced on December 17 for the murder of 14-year-old schoolgirl Jhaneel Goulbourne.

A 12-member jury convicted the 24-year-old policeman yesterday in the Home Circuit Court.

Relatives of the deceased wept when they heard the verdict.

The defence will be appealing the verdict.

The Crown led evidence that on October 24, 2008, the girl was abducted from her gate at Harbour View, St Andrew. A few weeks before she was abducted, the girl had reported to the police that Hamilton had sexually assaulted her and he was charged with carnal abuse.

Hamilton gave an unsworn statement denying the allegations. A prisoner in his testimony for the defence said he heard two Crown witnesses plotting to frame Hamilton for the girl's murder.