Supreme Court judge Carol Beswick on Thursday ruled that the three police officers on trial for the murder of 16 year-old Vanessa Kirkland have a case to answer.
The ruling was handed down following no case submissions by defence attorneys.
The trial is underway in the Home Circuit Court.
Constables Anna-Kay Bailey, Durvin Hayles, and Andre Wain Smith are charged with Vanessa's murder.
In their unsworn statements Thursday morning, the constables denied the allegations and insisted they acted in self defence.
Constable Smith said he was trying to protect himself and his colleagues when he opened gunfire in the direction of the blue Suzuki Swift they were pursuing from Spanish Town Road.
He stated that two men emerged from the vehicle and shot at the police.
Vanessa and five other persons in the vehicle were shot.
The 16 year-old student died.
Constable Smith told the court that he found an illegal firearm in the vicinity of the Suzuki Swift.
He stated that he placed it inside his police vest to prevent it being misplaced.
The defence has claimed persons in the vehicle were earlier involved in an armed robbery in Portmore and the Hunts Bay Police were put on alert.
A cellphone stolen in the robbery was allegedly found in the vehicle.
Two witnesses in the vehicle have rejected the claim.
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