World

$1.5m payout for US woman punched by police at roadside

September 25, 2014 6:41 pm

A US woman who was repeatedly punched in the face and head by a police officer at the side of the road will receive $1.5m (£0.9m) in compensation.

Footage posted on YouTube shows a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer straddling the woman, Marlene Pinnock, on 1 July and hitting her many times.

The settlement agreed on Wednesday came after nine hours of talks between lawyers in Los Angeles.

Article continues after advertisement

A CHP statement said the officer, on leave since the incident, has resigned.

“When this incident occurred, I promised that I would look into it and vowed a swift resolution,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement.

“Today, we have worked constructively to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to all parties involved.”

The bulk of the money will go into a special needs trust for 51-year-old Ms Pinnock, the CHP said.

She has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been off her medication for two to three months before the altercation, according to the Associated Press.

Her lawyer Caree Harper said the settlement secured the two things she wanted.