Unarmed Black Man Shot By Sheriff's Deputy Awarded $23.1m .

A 22-year-old black man who was unarmed when he was shot and paralysed by a Florida sheriff's deputy has been awarded $23.1m (£15.8m).

A federal jury awarded the sum to Dontrell Stephens after ruling his civil rights had been violated when Palm Beach County Sheriff's Sergeant Adams Lin opened fire in 2013.

The deputy had stopped Mr Stephens, who was riding a bicycle, to give him a ticket for impeding traffic.

Dashcam footage of the shooting released in April of last year showed Mr Stephens getting off his bike as the deputy pulled up behind him in a patrol car.

Carrying a mobile phone in his right hand, Mr Stephens was seen walking toward the deputy. He appeared in view again seconds later with his back to the officer as four gunshots rang out.

Dashcam shows police shooting.Mr Stephens was left a paraplegic by his injuries.

Mr Lin testified he opened fire after Mr Stephens reached for his waistband and then flashed forward a dark object that he thought was a small handgun.

In a deposition, he said: "I feel bad for what happened, but I was not the cause of what happened."

During closing arguments on Wednesday, Mr Lin's attorney maintained that the deputy made a "reasonably objective" mistake.

An internal investigation by the sheriff's department and state prosecutor ruled Mr Lin was justified in opening fire, and he returned to work four days later.

Attorneys for Palm Beach County are expected to appeal Wednesday's ruling.

The Florida Legislature must approve any award over $200,000.-