Texas mother gets $6m after son's taser death

HOUSTON - A jury in Texas has awarded $3 million (NZ$6m) to the mother of a mentally ill man who died after he was shocked 18 times with a stun gun and hogtied during an arrest.

Shirley Nagel sued four deputies from the Precinct One Constable's Office after they detained her son, Joel Don Casey, in 2005. Casey's death was later ruled a homicide.

Jurors on Monday found three of the four deputies used unreasonable and excessive force.

Assistant Harris County Attorney Frank Sanders says the deputies were not trying to hurt Casey or violate his constitutional rights. The county plans to appeal.

-AP