Barbara Gayle, Justice Coordinator

Former police constable Rushon Hamilton was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2008 murder of 14-year-old schoolgirl Jhaneel Goulbourne.

In handing down sentencing, Justice Lloyd Hibbert ruled that Hamilton must serve 35 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

The prosecution had earlier indicated that it would seek the death penalty.

Hamilton was found guilty last October of the murder of the 14-year-old schoolgirl.

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

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

The crown had argued that Goulbourne went missing after a report was made that Hamilton sexually molested her on October 4, 2008, at the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston.