Queens Tribune

The glass courthouse doors suddenly burst open, and a young man bounded down the long stone staircase, frantically touting what seemed like an important sheet of paper in his right hand. The throng that had gathered outside on Queens Boulevard last Friday morning rushed to meet the messenger at the heavily-guarded entrance and quickly fell silent to absorb his news.

Five words ignited palpable wails, incensed screams and minor scuffles along the sidewalk.
Not guilty on all counts.

Justice Arthur Cooperman exonerated Detectives Michael Oliver, Gescard “Jesse” Isnora and Marc Cooper who had been charged in connection with the 50-shot fusillade that killed Sean Bell on the day he was to wed his high school sweetheart, and wounded two of his friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield.

Oliver, who fired 31 times, and Isnora, who fired the first shot and 10 more, faced up to 25 years in prison had they been convicted of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment. Cooper fired four times and was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment. He faced up to a year in prison. Two other officers fired a combined four shots but were not indicted.

The 74-year-old judge’s historic decision crowned an emotional, dramatic, and at times tense, two-month trial filled with cinematic testimony and vivid evidence.
“We’re grateful that the judge viewed the evidence objectively,” said Steven Kartagener, co-counsel for Oliver, as he and several of his colleagues made their way down Hoover Avenue after they were berated by the angry crowd in front of the courthouse.

In his decision, Cooperman cited inconsistent testimony from questionable prosecution witnesses as damaging to the Queens District Attorney’s Office’s effort to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the three detectives actually committed a crime the morning of Nov. 25, 2006.
“Judge Cooperman discharged his responsibilities fairly and conscientiously under the law,” said Queens DA Richard Brown hours after the decision. “I accept his verdict – and I urge that all fair-minded people do the same.”

Brown also highlighted how this case has raised questions about law enforcement tactics.

“But it is clear that more needs to be done,” he noted. “The trial evidence insofar as it relates to the undercover operation in and around the Club Kalua during the early morning hours of November 25, 2006 revealed significant deficiencies in, among other things, supervision, tactical planning, communications and management accountability – insufficiencies that need to be addressed.”

The Bell family and its supporters were visibly shaken following the verdict. Declining comment, they headed straight to Bell’s grave at Nassau Knolls Cemetery in Port Washington, LI, for an impromptu prayer service.
The Rev. Al Sharpton has promised massive acts of civil disobedience in the coming days designed to cripple the City.

The U.S. Department of Justice has acknowledged that, in light of the full acquittals, it is currently examining the case to determine whether federal charges could be brought against the detectives. An internal NYPD investigation will follow.