Lawyer’s absence delays sentencing for man who murdered homeless man
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Sentencing has been postponed for Rushawn Bulgin, who pleaded guilty to murder after he was caught on video repeatedly hitting a homeless man in the head with a rock in Montego Bay, St James.
Bulgin was scheduled to be sentenced in the St James Circuit Court Thursday morning, but the hearing was postponed due to the illness of his lawyer, Albert Morgan.
However, that did not sit well with Bulgin.
“Please ma’am, are you going to put this off again?” an obviously disgruntled Bulgin asked High Court Justice Judith Pusey.
“Don’t bother with the foolishness this morning,” the judge told the accused man.
“Ma’am, can I get a transfer from the Freeport Police Station?” Bulgin asked the judge.
“Where do you want to go?” Justice Pusey enquired.
“Just put me back at Spanish Town,” Bulgin replied.
Justice Pusey then assured Bulgin that she would speak with the police officers to see what could be done.
Sentencing was subsequently rescheduled for November 24 and Bulgin was remanded in police custody.
The 22-year-old was slapped with murder charges in March after the death of Matthew Lettman. He pleaded guilty on Wednesday.
READ: Man charged with death of homeless man in St James pleads guilty
Lettman’s lifeless body was discovered on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard on March 7 of this year, with severe injuries consistent with a brutal attack.
Preliminary reports revealed his skull had been crushed, likely by a heavy stone, which led to his death.
A post mortem examination conducted on April 6, 2023 confirmed these findings.
Bulgin, who was seen on video using a rock to inflict wounds to Lettman’s head, was named a person of interest in the case. He was later taken in for questioning and subsequently charged.
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