New York Local News

NEW YORK (CBS) ― In what marked the end of one of the most high-profile police-involved shooting trials in New York City history, a judge on Friday acquitted three NYPD detectives of all charges in the shooting death of 23-year-old Sean Bell. The unarmed groom was gunned down in a hail of 50 bullets outside a Queens strip club on what would have been his wedding day in November 2006.

Justice Arthur Cooperman delivered the verdict in a Queens courtroom packed with spectators, including victim Bell's fiancee and parents, as at least 200 people gathered outside the building. Inside the courtroom, spectators gasped. Bell's fiancee immediately walked out of the room; his mother cried.

Detectives Gescard Isnora, 29, and Michael Oliver, 36, faced up to 25 years behind bars for manslaughter charges, while Det. Marc Cooper, 40, faced a year in jail on reckless endangerment charges.

"Murderers! Murderers!" many in the crowd shouted as the officers exited the building. Others chanted "PBA, PBA, KKK! KKK!" while some circled in an orderly protest in front of the court house.

"We're grateful that this court ruled on the evidence presented in this case, but in this case there are no winners or losers, we still have to live with a death." Patrick J. Lynch, President of New York's Police Benevolent Association, said in a statement to the media outside the courthouse.

"This sends a message to New York City police officers that when you are in that position, when you are in front of a court house, when you are in front of a court bench, you will get fairness."

Bell's family left the court around 10 a.m., led by Rev. Al Sharpton. The group, appearing visibly upset, moved past a podium set up in front of the court house and did not speak to reporters.

During an afternoon news conference, Sharpton said he planned to continue to fight for the Bell family.

"We intend to pursue this case with all deliberate speed and determination. This verdict is one round down, but the fight is far from over," he said. "What we saw in court today was not a miscarraige of justice, this was an abortion of justice. Justice was aborted."
 
All three officers appeared at a news conference several hours after the verdicts were returned.

"I'd like to say sorry to the Bell family for the tragedy," Cooper said, thanking God, his lawyers and the police officers who supported him.

Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives Endowment Association, responded angrily to Sharpton's suggestion that the verdicts were unfair.
"That's despicable for him to say that because we have the greatest criminal justice system on earth," he said.

The highly anticipated verdict, which many saw as holding far-reaching social ramifications for New York City and its police force, comes after seven weeks worth of testimony without a jury.

Before announcing the verdict, the judge made a statement indicating that the police officers' version of events was more credible than that of the victims.

"The people have not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that each defendant was not justified" in shooting the victims, Cooperman said.
About the version of events offered by the victims and other prosecution witnesses, he said, "At times the testimony just didn't make sense."

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly would not comment on the verdict "because any disciplinary actions that result will ultimately come before me."

Kelly added he does not expect violence or rioting to occur as a result of the verdict, but did say "we are prepared for any contingency."

As the verdict was read, CBS 2's Pablo Guzman described Bell's father as giving a look that seemed to say, "What will it take?" Earlier this month, Bell's parents spoke exclusively to Guzman about the trial.

"If the verdict is not guilty, we still pray for peace and understanding," Valerie Bell had said at the time.

"There are no winners in a trial like this. An innocent man lost his life, a bride lost her groom, two daughters lost their father, and a mother and a father lost their son. No verdict could ever end the grief that those who knew and loved Sean Bell suffer," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.

"America is a nation of laws, and though not everyone will agree with the verdicts and opinions issued by the courts, we accept their authority. Today's decision is no different," he added.

The detectives, who were responding to complaints about prostitution at the club, had claimed they fired their guns only after Isnora identified himself as a police officer and Bell's car nearly ran him over.

Oliver fired 31 shots in the incident, Isnora fired 11, and Cooper fired four times.

Defense attorneys had 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 one of the passengers in the car, Joseph Guzman, who was also shot, say to someone, "Go get my gat," slang for gun. They had also argued Bell had tried to run over Isnora with his car.

Investigators found no gun at the scene.

Prosecutors argued that Oliver would have found there was no threat if he had "paused to reassess" while firing the 31 shots. They said that Cooper fired wildly, with one of his shots even hitting an elevated airport train station. And they alleged that Isnora failed to display his badge in a clearly visible manner and wait for backup, and gave contradictory orders to Bell and his friends.

Bell's fiancé, Nicole Paultre Bell, and his mother have been overwhelmed by the unwavering support they've received since his death.

"I want to start by thanking you all (for) sticking by my family – my other mother and my other father and me. And supporting us because God knows we need it," Paultre Bell said on Thursday night.

Bishop Lester Williams, who is close with the Bell family, spoke with CBS 2 after the verdict was read and said he felt "defeated" by the verdict.

"The decision was very unfair. I don't know what to do at this point," he said. "We are hurt, we are deeply wounded with what's taken place. We will continue to pray, to have faith. This is not the end. This is just a verdict. We still have to live together."

Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for continuing coverage of this developing story

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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