Police face action on NY killing

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Eight New York police officers face disciplinary action and could be fired over the killing of an unarmed black man, officials have said.

Police confirmed that three men acquitted last month over the shooting are among those facing disciplinary charges, the Associated Press reported.

Sean Bell, 23, was killed in a hail of 50 bullets as he left a strip club in late 2006, hours before his wedding.

The case had generated accusations of police racism and brutality.

In a trial that ended last month two detectives, Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora, faced charges of manslaughter.

A third, Marc Cooper, had been accused of reckless endangerment.

Their acquittal sparked angry protests outside the court and a rally that attracted hundreds of people.

The three now face disciplinary charges along with four other officers and the detectives' superior, officials said.

Mr Bell was killed and two of his friends seriously injured in November 2006 in the suburb of Queens.

The police defendants said at their trial that they followed Mr Bell because they thought that he and his friends were armed, but no gun was found in the car.