A rather frightening development hasoccurred in the investigations into the murder of a teenage girl from Westmoreland in April, as a cop who was reportedly with her at the time of her death has now been charged in connection with the killing.

Sources from the Westmoreland police told THE WEEKEND STAR that Constable Linval Aird, who was said to be involved in a relationship with the victim and was there at the time of her murder, was last week charged in connection with the incident.

THE WEEKEND STAR learnt that following the murder of the teen, Aird had identified another suspect in connection with the incident.

Initial reports were that on April 9 of this year, 17-year-old Shanna-Kaye Clarke and the 26-year-old constable were in a car along Great George's Street in the parish when a lone gunman approached them and opened fire, hitting the girl who died on the spot. The gunman is said to have then made good his escape.

He was, however, reportedly pointed out during an identification parade and he was subsequently charged for the murder.

When the constable appeared in the Savanna-la-Mar Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, he was granted bail in the sum of $650,000 with two or three sureties.

Sources told THE WEEKEND STAR that investigators from the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) carried out a probe of their own, which led to the constable being arrested. A file was later sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who ruled that he be charged.

The constable is to return to court on September 28 and the man who was previously charged in relation with the crime is expected to be freed on that day.

An officer from the division when contacted by THE WEEKEND STAR said that tension was high among the cops as it is being argued that investigations were already done before the BSI conducted their probe. He pointed to mistrust within the force.

"This is a very tricky and touchy issue but what it is right now is that the guys from here (Westmoreland) feel as if they are being undermined, so to speak, because they had already done their investigations and someone was already charged for the murder. So most definitely this development definitely raises some eyebrows and a tonne of questions," the officer said when THE WEEKEND STAR contacted him on Tuesday afternoon.