The government is to pay $3 million to Jeffrey Patterson, 37, farmer of Bellas Gate, St. Catherine, who was shot and seriously injured by the police in August 2000.

Justice Roy Jones made awards for malicious prosecution and aggravated damages. Interest was awarded on the $3 million.

A judge usually awards aggravated damages in cases where claimants suffer psychological trauma or humiliation by agents of the State.

Patterson, who was represented by attorney-at-law Jeffrey Daley, instructed by the law firm Rattray Patterson Rattray, testified that the police chased him and then shot him on August 20, 2002 in Bellas Gate.

Operating an illegal taxi

Patterson, who was operating an illegal taxi, was ordered to stop by policemen who were at the intersection of Darlington Drive and the Colbeck main road, St. Catherine. He disobeyed the signal and the policemen chased him to Bellas Gate where the car crashed.

Patterson alighted from the car and began to run.

He testified in the Supreme Court that the police shot him while he was running and he received serious injuries to his abdomen.