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Thread ID: 89270	2008-04-25 22:44:00	Cops Exonerated; Defendant's Survivors Angry	SurferJoe46 (51)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
662672	2008-04-25 22:44:00	APRIL 25--Here's the text of today's verdict acquitting three New York Police Department detectives in the November 2006 shooting death of Sean Bell, who was cut down in a hail of 50 bullets outside a Queens strip club. In finding Michael Oliver, Marc Cooper, and Gescard Isnora not guilty, New York State Supreme Court Judge Arthur J. Cooperman said that the testimony of several key prosecution witnesses "just didn't make sense." Cooperman noted that a combination of problems with witness accounts resulted in "eviscerating the credibility of those prosecution witnesses." The text of Cooperman's statement, which the jurist read this morning to a packed courtroom, was released by his office. (4 pages) (www.thesmokinggun.com) The defendant decided to NOT use a Constitutional Right to Trial By Jury and opted for his legal right to just have a judge oversee and render the judgment. That MIGHT have been a bad choice and very bad legal representation by his group of attorneys. There are sure to be civil suit(s) filed by the family and representatives. Recent decisions by the Supreme Court (US) have indicated it is NOT double jeopardy to lose in one court and then seek compensation in a civil court when there are possible citizen's rights infringement. This double jeopardy law is only for the defendant to use, not the prosecution, and since the defendant is now seeking the possibility of redress in civil court, he then becomes the prosecution or "harmed individual" and can seek remuneration. The cops are not off the hook yet. Look at Rodney King.	SurferJoe46 (51)
662673	2008-04-26 09:26:00	Man, Sean Bell's supporters were spitting tacks. I watched it live when they released the verdict on NY Times and now I know what a riot starting and forming looks like :gasp:	beeswax34 (63)
662674	2008-04-26 11:18:00	Ok read the judgement, understand it, looks fine. If I'd been driven into by guys in a car, one of whom had talked about a gun and who then moved for a gun - near a strip club on the street at night - hell I'd light up his ass too!! Couple of points Joe - the Defendants chose trial by judge alone - as is their right. Sometimes juries aren't the best choice as it proved to be here. The defendants ie. the police officers were acquitted. They could still be disciplined by the NYPD, and also privately sued by the dead mans family for damages = money. This happened in the OJ case.	Winston001 (3612)
662675	2008-04-26 11:23:00	Wait, I never read about any civil charges. Did the Bell family win and if so, for how much?	beeswax34 (63)
662676	2008-04-26 11:34:00	Wait, I never read about any civil charges . Did the Bell family win and if so, for how much? No, not yet, the criminal trial comes first . They can sue in civil court if they want to . In OJs case, his trial took a year and he was acquitted of murder . He was then sued by his wifes family in civil court - where he lost and was ordered to pay them a lot of money . So far as I know he had nothing by then so it was a hollow but symbolic victory .	Winston001 (3612)
662677	2008-04-27 05:49:00	No, not yet, the criminal trial comes first . They can sue in civil court if they want to . In OJs case, his trial took a year and he was acquitted of murder . He was then sued by his wifes family in civil court - where he lost and was ordered to pay them a lot of money . So far as I know he had nothing by then so it was a hollow but symbolic victory . But you can find OJ on the links looking for the "real" killers . He has the money secreted away . . . and the family that sued and won is still out the judgment . . . and so are the attorneys . I was hoping that OJ would get some hard time for the gun play in Las Vegas with his collection and the thugs he hired to get them back . . . but so far the Las Vegas courts are dark and not saying a word .	SurferJoe46 (51)
662678	2008-04-27 05:51:00	Couple of points Joe - the Defendants chose trial by judge alone - as is their right. They could still be disciplined by the NYPD, and also privately sued by the dead mans family for damages = money. This happened in the OJ case. Oops..I need a proofreader sometimes. :thanks No..wait a minute..I don't think I erred. The Plaintiff was the family of the killed drunk guy. The Defendants were then the cops. The State of New York sought suit in the "voice of humanity" It means that the state sued for the damaged citizen to get the facts out to the public...kinda like an inquest. I think...criminal law is not my strength.	SurferJoe46 (51)
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