Gov’t to pay $2 million in damages to man negligently shot by the police

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Government must pay $2 million with interest to St Andrew resident Junior Minott, who was shot by the police when they opened fire while chasing an unarmed man on December 6, 2005.

Minott was shot in the hand and foot while he was standing in front of his home servicing his motor vehicle.

He informed the police on the scene that he was shot and they took him to hospital.

In 2008, Minott, who was represented by attorney-at-law Errol Gentles, filed a suit against the Attorney General, contending that he suffered loss and damage as a result of the injuries inflicted on him by the negligence of the police.

He stated in court documents that the police discharged their firearms in an area where people were standing, walking, or moving about.

He also stated that the police discharged their firearms at a person who was running away and did not pose an immediate threat to them or to anyone.

The Attorney General denied the negligence claim and stated that the police were on patrol in marked service vehicles in August Town, St Andrew when a group of about six men fired in the direction of the police who discharged their firearms.

One of the men in the group was shot and injured and a firearm recovered. 

The defendant contended that after the shooting had subsided, Minott reported to the police that he was shot.

Justice Leighton Pusey said last month that the undisputed facts were that the police discharged their weapons at a man who was running away from them and that Minott was shot by at least one police officer while standing in front of his gate.

Justice Pusey, after hearing evidence in the matter, said he accepted that the man did not have a gun when he was being “shot at and chased” by the police near to the claimant's gate.

The judge, in ruling in favour of Minott, said “unforeseen circumstances created various challenges which prevented the timely delivery of this judgment.”

He said further that “the court regrets this inordinate delay and sincerely apologies for their part in the delay.”

- Barbara Gayle

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