A fresh development has unfolded in the high-profile death investigation of 16-year-old Jerbiah Paul, as a second serving police officer has been formally accused of his murder. On Monday, Police Officer Joshua Hamlet appeared before a court to face the official murder charge connected to the teen’s killing.
Paul, a native of Portsmouth, was found dead in the Capuchin region on August 12, sparking a wide-ranging criminal probe by local authorities. The first arrest in the case came weeks ago, when 23-year-old Police Officer Jean-Luc Langlais was taken into custody and charged with homicide in relation to Paul’s death.
In line with local legal procedures, Hamlet was not required to enter a plea during his initial court appearance on Monday, since murder falls under the category of indictable offences under the region’s criminal code. Following the brief court hearing, the officer was ordered to be held at the State Prison, where he will remain pending a preliminary inquiry scheduled to get underway on October 2, 2026.
Hamlet was represented in court by defense attorney Dawn Yearwood, while the prosecution side was led by state lawyers Kevin Julien and Gabriel St. Hillare. As the investigation continues to unfold, the case has drawn significant public attention, marking the rare scenario where two active police officers now stand accused of murdering a civilian.