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Originally Posted by julia
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Thanks for the article but I just have a few comments to make. This has been a big "talking" issue around the water-cooler (or the printing circulations desk lol
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1. I had a chance to look at some of the documents released, and I have to say one thing. The DA was not the right organization to bring this case. There was clearly a lack of interest, because of some technical issues that could have been raised at trial. They should have appointed a special prosecutor, but because apparently NY cops get a pass to be as indiscriminate as they chose to be the governor didn't appoint one.
2. The verdict was not really surprising to me. I have read hundreds of cases like this and they come out the same way. If Sean Bell's friends say, "they didn't identify themselves as cops." and the police claim they did. The judge will usually give a cop the benefit of the doubt. I don't think that is a very genuine position to take. However, many judges specifically the ones that sit on criminal courts are morons. I say that with the utmost respect, but I have met quite a few and that alone was impetus to not practice criminal law... lol.
Perhaps the most interesting thing that happened was the Supreme ct (the appeals ct in NY) ruled that they would not allow the Defendants to change the venue (district) the trial is held. They wanted it out of queens.
3. They will win the civil case. They will pay damages, probably not in the millions. At least something, I can only hope.
Maybe they will appeal.