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Sean Bell Trial Begins In Queens Today
February 25th, 2008Three N.Y. cops are charged with killing an unarmed Black man on his wedding day
The trial kicks off today for three New York City Police officers who shot to death 23-year-old Sean Bell, the African-American who died in a blizzard of bullets outside a Queens strip club just hours before he was to be married. Bell was unarmed on Nov. 25, 2005, when five plainclothes detectives fired 50 bullets at him and two friends, Trent Benefield, 24, and Joseph Guzman, 32, who were wounded but have recovered. On trial, which is being held in the state Supreme Court in Kew Gardens, are detectives Michael Oliver, 36; Gescard Isnora, 29; and Marc Cooper, 40, who must convince a judge that they believed someone in Bell’s car was armed and also that they were in danger of being rammed by Bell’s Nissan Altima. Oliver and Isnora are facing the most serious charges – first- and second-degree manslaughter – with a potential 25-year sentence. The officers’ fate will be decided by Queens State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Cooperman; they opted for a judge rather than jury, believing that they could not get an unbiased jury of their peers in the borough where the shooting occurred. “We are looking for the judge to do justice,” said attorney Sanford Rubenstein, who along with Michael Hardy is representing Bell’s family and the other two victims. Bell’s fiancée, Nicole Paultre Bell, who legally took his name following his death, is expected to be the leadoff witness. Do you expect justice in the Sean Bell case?
Just another day in the black neighborhood. To be honest we as black people rarely receive justice in these situations especially when the police are involved. My heart and prayers go out to the family of this young man and regardless of the justice they will receive in the courtroom God will give them the ultimate punishment. Don’t get me wrong police officers have stressful and trying jobs but there is a thin line between protecting themselves when a threat is posed and just spraying a hale of bullets at unarmed men. I am not here to judge those men but 50 shots sounds like a bit much. La’Wanda
I think justice will be served. There is not way those officers can prove those men were armed. I lived in Queens for over 10 years and the police officers in general are very prejudice especially towards African American men. Just to be a black male in New York at times do not pay off. I’ll pray the Bell family get fair justice and those officers not just get a tap on the wrist. They should be charged like any other murderer. Life without parole. All of them.
I am praying for the family of the victim and also for the family of the cops who so viciously took this young mans life. They know that they did wrong but we as a people need to keep the faith. I know we saw justice not prevail on some others trials similar to this one but lets pray that the judge and that God will do what needs to be done to get these criminals off the streets. To the family we will be lifting you up in prayers and to the fiance I just dont know how strong you are but just keep your hands in the master hand and God will see you through sista.
My prayers go out to the Bell Family. I believe that justice will be done,because the nation is watching this case and the facts will speak for themselves. I do agree with La’Wanda that a police officer’s job is stresful but, we can see that 50 shots are quite much! Let the judge do his job and we’re see where it goes from there.
I think justice will be served because 50 bullets..that is emptying a few clips into a person. That is absolutely ridiculous…and for the cops to say that they believed that someone in the car was armed does not give them the right to shoot..better yet empty a clip into another person. But in the end they will get what is coming to them, if the judge doesn’t decide in the favor that everyone else is hoping for!