The three police officers charged with the 2012 shooting death of school girl, Vanessa Kirkland, have been convicted of manslaughter.

They are Constables Anna-Kay Bailey, Durvin Hayles and Andrewain Smith.

A seven-member jury found the cops not guilty of murder, but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The verdict was handed down in the Home Circuit Court, this afternoon (Feb 8).

The case has been set for mention next Thursday, February 14, when a sentencing date, will be determined.

Justice Carol Lawrence Beswick, who presided over the five-week trial, advised the jurors to return a true verdict according to the evidence.

The judge had left manslaughter for the jury’s consideration.

The prosecutors in addressing the jurors, called on them to return a guilty verdict because excessive force was used during the incident.

Meanwhile, defence lawyers asked the jurors to believe the statements given by the police officers that they acted in self -defence.

16-year-old Vanessa Kirkland was fatally shot inside a motorcar on Norman Lane, eastern Kingston on the night of March 20, 2012.

The crown led evidence that the constables fired on the motorcar in which Kirkland and other passengers were travelling.

However, the police officers in unsworn statements at their trial said, that they acted in self-defence.

The cops said that they received a radio report, that the particular vehicle was involved in a robbery.

They signalled the vehicle to stop, but it sped away and they gave chase.

The police constables said shots were fired at them from the vehicle, they returned the fire and a firearm was recovered.