$771,000 payout for man held 18 months on gang charge

MORE than $700,000 has been awarded to a Cocorite man who spent about 18 months in custody after being charged under the Anti-Gang Act in a prosecution the High Court found was malicious and unsupported by evidence.

Kern Parkinson was awarded $525,000 in general damages, including aggravated damages, and a further $75,000 in exemplary damages by Justice Robin Mohammed in a judgment delivered earlier this month.

The Office of the Attorney General was also ordered to pay $85,941.78 in pre-judgment interest and $85,445 in prescribed costs, bringing the total financial liability arising from the judgment to $771,386.78.