The non-jury trial began on February 25th in New York for 3 undercover New York City detectives for the killing of Sean Bell. The trial is scheduled to resume on Monday (March 10). Click here to watch AP video of chaos after Sean Bell shooting recalled in court.
In November 2006, Sean Bell, a 23-year-old unarmed Black man was shot and killed on his wedding day in a hail of 50 police bullets as the young groom and his friends left his bachelor party. His friends Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman were also shot, but they survived. None of the men were armed.
This week the prosecution called Lt. Michael Wheeler, who was a patrol supervisor in the 103rd Precinct, testified that he got to the scene about two minutes after receiving an emergency radio call about “shots fired.” When Lt. Wheeler saw Detective Oliver, he asked him whether he had fired his weapon. Detective Michael Oliver (who had fired 31 of the 50 shots), responded "I don't remember.” (source)
Detective Hispolito Sanchez was also called by the prosecution to testify. Detective Sanchez said he was with Detectives Cooper and Isnora inside the bar and drank a Heineken and a Corona beer. Sanchez made this frantic 911 call that night. (source)
The prosecution called Lt. Gary Napoli, the commanding officer, who testified Friday (Feb. 29) that he “never heard his men yell ‘Police!’ or ‘Stop!’” The first week of testimony in the trial included eyewitness accounts from an exotic dancer who worked at the club, Bell’s father, and Harold “Bones” James, who said he helped organize the bachelor party at the Kalua Cabaret. (source)
On March 16th, 2007 a Queens Grand Jury voted to indict three detectives in the case. The non-jury trial will be judged by Justice Arthur J. Cooperman of the State Supreme Court. Detectives Michael Oliver
(fired his weapon 31 times) and Gescard Isnora (fired his weapon 11 times) are charged with manslaughter and could face up to 25 years in prison. Detective Marc Cooper (fired his weapon 4 times) faces misdemeanor charges and could face a year behind bars.
SEAN BELL PHOTOS & 911 CALL PRESENTED AT TRIAL 3.7.08
ROCAWEAR AD CAMPAIGN FEATURES SEAN BELL'S FAMILY
Mrs. Nicole Paultre-Bell, the widow of Sean Bell, is featured in Rocawear's new "I Will Not Loose" ad campaign which has an overall theme of resilience and overcoming obstacles. Nicole Paultre-Bell, who took on her slain fiancée's name legally, is featured with couple's two young-daughters Jada and Jordyn along with the quote "We are going to be here to the end, 'til justice is served."- Nicole Paultre-Bell.
Re: "50 Bullets" NEW SONG LAMENTS SEAN BELL DEATH
There's a new Myspace page with a song titled "50 Bullets" about the killing of Sean Bell. The artist known as "Yardmon50" says that the shooting was "a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. For just like Romeo and Juliet, this young couple and their infant child were victims of society's contentions." While the song's theme is taken from the title, the message of the song is that the world should unite against hate. The artist states that the song is not political, but personal since he has experienced what police brutality is like first hand. The public is invited to visit the Myspace page (myspace.com/yardmon50) and download the song with a portion of the proceeds going to a special fund for the environment set up in Sean Bell's name.
Posted by: Yardmon50 | April 13, 2008 at 10:40 PM