NYPD trio on trial in groom's death

[Jahness]

NYPD trio on trial in groom's death

By TOM HAYS,
Associated Press Writer

The death of an unarmed man caught in a barrage of 50 police bullets on his wedding day can't be explained "as a mere accident or mistake," a prosecutor said Monday at the opening of the trial of three undercover police officers.

The hail of gunshots outside a strip club killed Sean Bell, who had been at a bachelor party on the night before his wedding, and wounded two of his friends. The shooting has sparked protests and debate over excessive force and police conduct in New York City.

The lawyer for one of the defendants told the judge in his opening statement that he would introduce evidence showing that Bell was drunk and "out of control" during the early morning confrontation.

The defendants waived their right to a jury trial, so State Supreme Court Justice Arthur J. Cooperman is hearing the case by himself.

Bell's fiance, Nicole Paultre-Bell, is expected to be the first witness at the trial, and she has said she plans to be in court every day.

Assistant District Attorney Charles Testagrossa said in his opening statement that one of the three undercover officers failed to display his badge in a clearly visible manner and wait for backup before confronting the three men, and gave contradictory orders to Bell and his friends.

Testagrossa was referring to Detective Gescard Isnora, who fired 11 of the shots during the Nov. 25, 2006, incident.

Isnora and Detective Michael Oliver have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter; Detective Marc Cooper has pleaded not guilty to reckless endangerment. Oliver fired 31 shots, including the one that killed Bell, and Cooper fired four times.

Testagrossa said that once the evidence is heard, "It will be clear that what happened cannot be explained away as a mere accident or mistake."

The prosecutor also said Oliver would have found there was no threat if he had "paused to reassess" while firing, but defense lawyer James Culleton estimated that it took as little as nine seconds for Oliver to fire the 31 rounds from his semiautomatic pistol — even with reloading — giving him no time to reassess.

Culleton said Oliver saw Bell's car pulling away and heard Isnora yell "He's got a gun! He's got a gun!"

He said Oliver will testify that he saw Joseph Guzman, one of Bell's companions, start lifting his arms. He said Oliver was convinced that if he hesitated "He'd be looking down the barrel of a gun and he'd be a dead man."

Investigators found no gun at the scene.

Isnora's attorney, Anthony Ricco, 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 Guzman tell someone "Go get my gat," slang for gun, Ricco said.

Rico said Bell, at Guzman's urging, tried to strike Isnora with his car.

"When there is a confluence of alcohol and ignorance, there's always a tragedy," Ricco said.

Oliver and Isnora face up to 25 years in prison if convicted; Cooper faces up to a year on the lesser endangerment count.

___

Associated Press Writer Deepti Hajela contributed to this report.

(This version CORRECTS Cooper's first name to Marc)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080225/...4yrKZh5QnBF4l4

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press.

[tyydae]

Originally Posted by Jahness

"When there is a confluence of alcohol and ignorance, there's always a tragedy," Ricco said.

This only applies if you are black, and there is a police officer is involved. There have been many cases of white young men drunk, who are behaving belligerent, and somehow they always make it to see their wedding day.

Shit, if things really gets bad, and they are arrested, they never die at the hands of the law.

Let a white young man get into a scuffle with the law, and die while he is in police custody...

[Jahness]

Originally Posted by tyydae

This only applies if you are black, and there is a police officer is involved. There have been many cases of white young men drunk, who are behaving belligerent, and somehow they always make it to see their wedding day.

Shit, if things really gets bad, and they are arrested, they never die at the hands of the law.

Let a white young man get into a scuffle with the law, and die while he is in police custody...

Greetings tyydae!

You are 100% correct tyydae. It is only people of color who seem to get killed and die just going for a cup of water, getting married, leaving their apartment or going to their apartment. Going to visit their mother, sister, family et all. It just sickens me to see the way they treat us. And sad enough it will continue because our Afrikan communities are not holding these police officers accountable for their crimes.

Like you said if it was a white boy someone would pay for killinghim, if it's a black person we must sit and wait and allow them to tell us just how civilized we should act and calm downbecause we don't want the world to think of us as savages if we riot and protest. In the mean time the biggest savages gets away with murdering our people free of charge.

Much appreciation Queen for your valuable comments.

Peace & Blessings!

[BlackQueen]

In a way,the media has made it worse,because the pigs see criminals,who just happen to be black,and assume that all of us act that way. You could be a business owner with a nice house and car,and still be pulled over for auto theft,or some other bullshit.

Originally Posted by tyydae

This only applies if you are black, and there is a police officer is involved. There have been many cases of white young men drunk, who are behaving belligerent, and somehow they always make it to see their wedding day.

Shit, if things really gets bad, and they are arrested, they never die at the hands of the law.

Let a white young man get into a scuffle with the law, and die while he is in police custody...