Posted on 04/25/2008 6:22:46 AM PDT by Dallas
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
A judge has acquitted three NYPD detectives of all charges in the shooting death of 23-year-old Sean Bell on Friday. Bell was gunned down in a hail of 50 bullets outside a Queens strip club on what would have been his wedding day in November 2006.
The highly anticipated verdict, which many see as holding far-reaching social ramifications for New York City and its police force, comes after seven weeks worth of testimony without a jury.
Detectives Gescard Isnora and Michael Oliver, faced up to 25 years behind bars for manslaughter charges, while Det. Marc Cooper faced a year in jail on reckless endangerment charges.
The detectives, who were responding to complaints about prostitution at the club, have claimed they fired their guns only after Isnora identified himself as a police officer and Bell's car nearly ran him over.
Oliver fired 31 shots in the incident, Isnora fired 11, and Cooper fired four times.
Defense attorneys had said there was evidence that Bell was drunk and "out of control" when he left the club. Witnesses overheard Bell exchange curses with another patron, and heard one of the passengers in the car, Joseph Guzman, who was also shot, say to someone, "Go get my gat," slang for gun. They had also argued Bell had tried to run over Isnora with his car.
Investigators found no gun at the scene.
Prosecutors argued that Oliver would have found there was no threat if he had "paused to reassess" while firing the 31 shots. They said that Cooper fired wildly, with one of his shots even hitting an elevated airport train station. And they alleged that Isnora failed to display his badge in a clearly visible manner and wait for backup, and gave contradictory orders to Bell and his friends.
Bell was supposed to be married at Community Baptist Church in Jamaica the same day of the shooting. On Thursday night, that hallowed ground became the site of a spiritual rally of sorts as an entire city waited for a verdict that had been anticipated for months.
Inspirational words were uttered by the Rev. Al Sharpton for the community and Sean's family.
"We have no hate. We have no malice. We seek no revenge. We put in God's hands. And in God's own time this city will deal with justice," Sharpton said.
Bell's fiancé and mother have been overwhelmed by the unwavering support they've received since his death.
"I want to start by thanking you all (for) sticking by my family – my other mother and my other father and me. And supporting us because God knows we need it," Nicole Paultre Bell said.
Outside the courtroom, the NYPD had preparing for any post-verdict scenario or protests.
"We certainly have no reason to expect violence," NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said Thursday. "There's been many demonstrations, memorials, marches since the incident took place. We've done things that the public would expect us to do to prepare for any contingency."
Added Bishop Lester Williams: "How can you celebrate officers who are supposed to take care of you and are now going to jail, if that is the case? And then how can you celebrate if they don't go to jail. The loss that that family will [have to] endure [will last] forever, so there is no victory. We have to sit down and make sure this does not happen again."
Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for continuing coverage of this developing story.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
You still don’t understand the system. The defendant has a right to choose a jury trial or a bench trial.
Off to your N.A.N. meeting, now.
At this point I suspect that Impy is a bit redfaced about his complete ignorance of this basic aspect of the US legal system.
We all already realize that you have nothing of merit to say. We get it.
I will give the Rev. Al Sharpton’s FR spokesman the final (non)word.
From the Times Justice Arthur J. Cooperman, who delivered the verdict, said many of the prosecution’s witnesses, including Mr. Bell’s friends and the two wounded victims, were simply not believable. “At times, the testimony of those witnesses just didn’t make sense,” he said."
I didn't see the facts in this, but contradictions can give a reasonable doubt. I'm biased towards the defense (in all matters). When there's a tossup, I lean toward them.
Had Bell and friends been questioned they may have even been arrested for solicitation of prostitution due to the nature and content of the conversations inside the strip joint according to accounts in the press. Maybe that is why the tried so hard to flee the scene. Especially if you are to me married the next day. Although I haven't heard anything about where the reception was to be, or the wedding party, or anything of that nature regarding the plans for the special day.
This ruling followed judicial protocol.
Indeed. The witness testimony had, I believe, Benefield more or less blatantly negotiating for a sex party with one of the dancers - a conversation which set the whole matter in motion, since the solicitation apparently aroused the ire of her "manager."
Maybe that is why the tried so hard to flee the scene.
Good point. After all, Sean Bell could not afford another arrest. He had already been arrested twice for dealing crack in the previous few months. Those cases were pending and he apparently could barely afford the terms of the first two bail hearings.
Especially if you are to me married the next day. Although I haven't heard anything about where the reception was to be, or the wedding party, or anything of that nature regarding the plans for the special day.
I had actually expected when that angle first started being reported that it would be a matter of hours before there were pictures in the paper of her wedding dress, the reception hall, etc.
None were forthcoming.
Also, he was first described as "an unemployed electrician" - and apparently the last time he held down a straight job was two years before.
Who spends money on a bachelor party and a wedding when he has been unemployed for two years? Especially when he has already been living with his girlfriend without benefit of marriage for several years?
If you try to run somebody down, you are basically asking to be killed.
An tragedy that was 100% avoidable.
I'm not sure it was a tragedy, but it was definitely 100% avoidable.
As blacks continue to be their own worst enemy.
Apparently there's nothing wrong with threatening people and running over police officers as long as you're black.
How is this goof going to make sure this never happens again when he continues to endorse criminal behavior?
Utter bs. The cops should have been fried. If you pulled the same stunt, and claimed you overheard someone say “get my gun,” and their turned out not to be a gun after you emptied 50 rounds into some guys you would be getting fitted for a needle.
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