BY MARIA BRADSHAW

NINE YEARS AGO, Kim Joseph was accidentally shot in the head by a policeman's gun during a shootout in Vine Street, The City.

She was only 17 years old at the time.

But up to this day, the young woman has not received one cent in compensation. She is upset and frustrated at the way she has been treated, especially since she was only an innocent pedestrian.

Joseph said back in 2001 attorneys for the Government approached her lawyer about making a settlement, but they were unable to arrive at an amount which she believed would have been reasonable. So a decision was made to take the matter to court.

But over the years she has been to court only three times and on each occasion, the matter was adjourned. She said her attorney had been experiencing difficulty in getting the matter settled.

What has her even more concerned is that there are still metal fragments lodged in her brain; she still suffers headaches and blurred vision; and there are other tests and treatment which she needs, but she does not have the money to pay for.

Now 26 and the mother of two, Joseph said she could not believe justice could be so slow especially when she was an innocent victim.

Recalling the incident, she said it was on October 1, 1999, when she was walking along Vine Street with her two-year-old cousin in her arms.

Suddenly, she heard scampering feet and saw a policeman run around a corner with a gun in his hand. Then she heard an explosion. The police were apparently chasing some suspects.

She remembers hitting the ground and hugging her cousin under her body to shield her, but then she felt a burning in her head and realised she could not see.

Before she could make another move, a police officer picked her up, put her in a police car and drove her to the hospital.

After some tests she was taken to surgery to remove the bullet.

While doctors assured her the operation was successful and that the bullet was removed easily because it had not penetrated deep into her head, Joseph decided to seek a second opinion because she was still experiencing headaches.

After X-rays and some other tests, that doctor informed her there were still metal fragments lodged in her brain and while they were not life-threatening, they would have to be monitored.

Over the years she has also been to an eye specialist because her vision becomes blurred at times.

Joseph said whenever she heard about people receiving settlements, it reminded her of her own situation and made her angry.

"I am not saying that these people don't deserve what is for them, but when I compare their matter to mine, I have a problem because my situation was unavoidable. I read in the papers about a woman who fell into a pothole and got a lot of money, and about a man whose boat was seized by the police for transporting drugs and he got a lot of money for his boat.

"I had no control over my situation because I was just walking along the road."

She explained that police had given a statement saying the bullet had ricocheted from a wall, but to Josephthat was no excuse.

What has her feeling more upset is that when she asked the Government attorneys for money to cover her medical expenses after the incident had occurred, it was denied her on the grounds that Government could not pay her medical bills and still pay her a settlement.

I contacted Solicitor General Jennifer Edwards to find out what was causing the delay. She said she could not discuss this matter with the media, adding it was up to Joseph's attorney to contact the offices of the Solicitor General.

She however promised to look into the situation.