Bell Verdict Shocker:NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS
BY PETE DAVIS
Immediately following Justice Arthur Cooperman’s not-guilty-on-all-counts verdict in the shooting death of Sean Bell, tears filled the courtroom.
On the right side of the Kew Gardens courtroom, family and friends of Bell, including his fianc/e Nicole Paultre Bell, sobbed tears of sadness and anger while rushing out of the room, clearly disheartened and disappointed by Cooperman’s verdict.
On the left side, Michael Oliver, the detective who fired 31 times including the shot that ultimately killed Bell, buried his head in his hands weeping tears of joy and expressing relief before he hugged his attorney and quickly exited the room.
After a seven-week trial, Justice Cooperman delivered the not guilty verdict shortly after 9 a.m. clearing Detectives Oliver, Gescard F. Isnora and Marc Cooper on all charges for their roles in Bell’s death.
“The police response with respect to each defendant was not proved to be criminal, i.e. beyond a reasonable doubt,” Cooperman said while delivering the verdict. “Questions of carelessness and incompetence must be left to other forums.”
Police officers taking part in an undercover operation fired 50 shots and killed Bell outside the Kalua nightclub in Jamaica in November of 2006 – the night before Bell’s wedding day.
During the trial, prosecutors called 50 witnesses including Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, who were also shot that night, hoping to portray the officers as reckless with their shootings.
However, defense attorneys ultimately poked holes in Benefield’s and Guzman’s testimony saying that the officers believed that one of the men at the club may have been carrying a gun.
“The court has found that the incident lasted just seconds,” Cooperman said. “The officers responded to perceived criminal conduct; the unfortunate consequences of their conduct were tragic.”
During the reading of the verdict, Cooperman made multiple references to the lack of credibility from some witnesses, and he said some testimony did not make sense.
Meanwhile, as word of the news quickly spread outside the courtroom, angry community members rallied in the street shouting “murderers” and “no justice no peace,”
“This system stinks, black people better protect themselves by any means necessary” said City Councilmember Charles Baron, who represents Brooklyn. This judge told us that we haven’t gotten any further than Dred Scott.”
Although the Bell family and a majority of their supporters continue to call for peace, some community members outside the courthouse said marching and praying were not enough now.
“We’re going to tear this city up,” said Calvin Hunt, who was wearing a Sean Bell shirt and said he has been coming to the trial frequently since its beginning. “The cops got away with murder.”
While the crowds outside the courthouse were very vocal, hundreds of police officers patrolled the streets trying to keep order. As the crowds started to disperse, no violent incidents had occurred.
Shortly before 11 a.m., after family and friends left the courthouse, Michael Hardy, an attorney for Nicole Paultre Bell urged supporters to go to the House of Justice in Harlem today and attend another rally on Saturday.
Read Queens District Attorney Richard Brown’s response to the verdict
