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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Police acquitted over NY shooting | Police acquitted over NY shooting |
| (3 days later) | |
| A judge in New York has acquitted three police officers who shot dead an unarmed man hours before his wedding. | A judge in New York has acquitted three police officers who shot dead an unarmed man hours before his wedding. |
| Sean Bell, 23, who was black, was shot as he left a strip club in the suburb of Queens in November 2006. | Sean Bell, 23, who was black, was shot as he left a strip club in the suburb of Queens in November 2006. |
| Two detectives, Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora, faced charges of manslaughter. A third, Marc Cooper, had been accused of reckless endangerment. | Two detectives, Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora, faced charges of manslaughter. A third, Marc Cooper, had been accused of reckless endangerment. |
| The case had generated accusations of police racism and brutality, and there were angry protests outside the court. | The case had generated accusations of police racism and brutality, and there were angry protests outside the court. |
| Mr Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell, walked out of the packed courtroom as soon as Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman cleared the three officers of all charges. | Mr Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell, walked out of the packed courtroom as soon as Supreme Court Justice Arthur Cooperman cleared the three officers of all charges. |
| "The people have not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that each defendant was not justified" in firing, the judge said. | "The people have not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that each defendant was not justified" in firing, the judge said. |
| The defendants had opted to not be tried by a jury. | The defendants had opted to not be tried by a jury. |
| Undercover | Undercover |
| Mr Bell and two friends were apparently trying to drive away from the Kalua club when the shooting occurred early on the morning of 25 November 2006. | Mr Bell and two friends were apparently trying to drive away from the Kalua club when the shooting occurred early on the morning of 25 November 2006. |
| In pictures: Sean Bell verdictCrowds stunned by verdict | In pictures: Sean Bell verdictCrowds stunned by verdict |
| Mr Bell was killed and his friends both seriously injured. | Mr Bell was killed and his friends both seriously injured. |
| Mr Isnora, who with his colleagues was investigating a prostitution ring, said he had followed the trio to their car because he believed they were going to carry out a drive-by shooting. | Mr Isnora, who with his colleagues was investigating a prostitution ring, said he had followed the trio to their car because he believed they were going to carry out a drive-by shooting. |
| No gun was found in the car. | No gun was found in the car. |
| Critics argued the officers had used excessive force in firing 50 shots at the car. | Critics argued the officers had used excessive force in firing 50 shots at the car. |
| A spokesman for a police union, Patrick J Lynch, told reporters that the verdict proved police officers could expect "fairness" in court. | A spokesman for a police union, Patrick J Lynch, told reporters that the verdict proved police officers could expect "fairness" in court. |
| New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement that he accepted the authority of the court to decide the case. | New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement that he accepted the authority of the court to decide the case. |
| "There are no winners in a trial like this. No verdict could ever end the grief that those who knew and loved Sean Bell suffer," he said. | "There are no winners in a trial like this. No verdict could ever end the grief that those who knew and loved Sean Bell suffer," he said. |
| The US Department of Justice said it was conducting a review of the shooting to decide whether a federal crime had been committed. | The US Department of Justice said it was conducting a review of the shooting to decide whether a federal crime had been committed. |
| Gasps | Gasps |
| There was outrage at the verdict among Mr Bell's family and supporters. | There was outrage at the verdict among Mr Bell's family and supporters. |
| Angry scenes outside court following the verdict | Angry scenes outside court following the verdict |
| Inside the courtroom, Mr Bell's mother sobbed and gasps were heard as the verdict was announced. | Inside the courtroom, Mr Bell's mother sobbed and gasps were heard as the verdict was announced. |
| Outside there were shouts of "murderers" from among the dozens of protesters gathered. | Outside there were shouts of "murderers" from among the dozens of protesters gathered. |
| Some wept on each other's shoulders, while others shouted "No justice in America!" | Some wept on each other's shoulders, while others shouted "No justice in America!" |
| Veteran civil rights campaigners Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson criticised the outcome, saying the case was about police accountability, not race. | Veteran civil rights campaigners Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson criticised the outcome, saying the case was about police accountability, not race. |
| Mr Jackson said the decision was a "travesty of justice". | Mr Jackson said the decision was a "travesty of justice". |
| Two of the acquitted officers were black. | Two of the acquitted officers were black. |