‘PAY MI OFF’ - 78-y-o makes desperate appeal for $9m gov’t payout after being shot by cop

Cleveland Tulloch, a senior citizen who last year won his case against the State after he was accidentally shot by a policeman in August, 2017, is imploring the Government to compensate him with the over $9 million that the Supreme Court awarded.

The judgment was handed down on November 16, 2022.

The 78-year-old, who hails from Allman Town in central Kingston, said he has fallen on hard times and would be grateful to receive his payout to improve his living conditions and failing health.

"The case done and all now mi can't get no money and is like nobody nah look pon mi enuh. Mi want to be able to walk again and just sort out mi life. Mi was an independent man enuh, as old as mi be. Mi use to push mi cart and sell jelly and now mi a suffer suh mi a beg dem to just hasten and pay mi off," he said.

On August 27, 2017, the day of the incident, Tulloch was reportedly pushing his cart to Sabina Park to sell coconuts when he was told that the cricket match had been postponed. He decided to park his cart for a while and headed to the other side of the road to urinate.

"Same time mi see two car a blaze a come up the road. When mi realise, it was two policeman a run down a taxi, and one a dem fire a shot after the taxi man, and it catch mi in mi foot. Dem not even did stop to help me," Tulloch recalled.

Pointing towards a very visible keloid patch around the area where the bullet pierced his skin, the wheelchair user and former coconut vendor said he remains in constant pain.

A section of his calf was transplanted on to the injured area, resulting in the massive scar on his foot. As he attempted to move his leg, the lower half of the damaged limb jolted to the left, while the upper part went to the right, signifying bone separation.

He told THE WEEKEND STAR that he has been waiting for years to undergo an operation to have the issue rectified, but he is unable to purchase the required pins.

"Is seven years now mi get shot enuh, and all now mi can't get the little money, and the case finish from last year. Sometimes is mi lawyer mi have to borrow a money from suh mi can buy food. Nuff time when mi fi go doctor is mi lawyer help mi out and sometimes a one will pass and give mi a little thing and is suh mi can get likkle food. Mi a beg dem please to pay mi before mi dead," Tulloch pleaded.

His attorney, Christine Mae Hudson, of K. Churchill Neita and Company, is hoping that her client receives his payout before the next budget is read, as he is in a destitute situation.

Based on the final judgment, Tulloch is expected to be awarded general damage against the defendant in the amount of $9 million, plus interest rate of three per cent from December 21, 2020, to November 16, 2022. He is also to receive special damage for medication and transportation in the sum of $186,300, in addition to $2.04 million representing loss of income from August 28, 2017 to November 16, 2022.