3 NYPD officers cleared in 50-shot killing of groom-to-be

Saturday 26th April, 06:09 AM JST

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smithinjapan at 09:07 AM JST - 26th April

Absolutely ridiculous! Even if they had a pretense to shoot, which it clearly seems they did not (it's unbelievable the judge would claim the officers, who shot.... what.... more than 50 bullets at three unarmed men?!?, have a more credible story than men with bullets still lodged in them from the event), at the VERY least 'excessive force' is an extreme understatement. Why didn't they just order in a laser guided missile to be sure?

DEFINITELY a travesty of justice.
skipthesong at 11:08 AM JST - 26th April

The US legal system has gone down the drain and in the type of trial that these guys went to, you don't have to prove your innocence but your guilt must be proved. Basically, read the commentary.. unfortunately, most won't.

I can understand why and actually it may work in the other two's favor.

However, what I don't like is "The case brought back painful memories of other NYPD shootings, such as the 1999 shooting of Amadou Diallo—an African immigrant who was gunned down in a hail of 41 bullets by police officers who mistook his wallet for a gun." I lived in NYC at this time and know more about it than most. There was so much more to this story that people outside the local never heard and had one of us been one of said police officers, we may have done something just as drastic.
Everton2 at 01:31 PM JST - 26th April

The US legal system is rotten to the core.
skipthesong at 01:39 PM JST - 26th April

The US legal system is rotten to the core." scary isn't it? And at one time, it used to be the best system in the world. Its the only place where guilty people can get off and victims' are brushed aside.
umbrella at 02:04 PM JST - 26th April

Well get ready for the NY riots.
skipthesong at 03:24 PM JST - 26th April

Well get ready for the NY riots." No, I don't think even Al Sharpton would ignite that, of course I could be wrong. The main reason I feel that is that none of the officer were white. additionally, the local news agencies have been pretty good getting the info on the court out - the court is not what most think it is.
jeancolmar at 04:01 PM JST - 26th April

Remember what the man said about China. Well, the NYPD is a bunch of goons and thugs. This verdict demonstrated that these people have a license to kill anyone they feel like. Note that this was not a juried trial but one argued only before a judge who delivered the verdict. What judge in New York would have the guts to go against NYPD? The good thing is that these three killers might still be indicted in federal court for violating the civil rights of their victim.

New Yorkers' true feelings for the NYPD came out after 9/11. Remember all the outpouring of grief over the death of all those firemen. Hardly a tear was shed for the cops who died in the attack.
lipscombe at 06:48 PM JST - 26th April

what awful police officers, I'd say something stronger but mr moderator would have something to do then. NWA had it right
SuperLib at 02:06 AM JST - 27th April

Unfortunately we'll probably never know what really happened that night.

There is no proof of injustice, unless you were there and saw the events yourself. It's one group's word against another. The number of bullets doesn't prove that he made motions for a weapon or not.
Badsey at 05:28 AM JST - 27th April

this is not Japan and the NYC-PD don't mess around. I will expect these thugs in jail for related crimes soon. Justice will be served. Give up you life of thuggery and strip-clubs or else!
SuperLib at 06:01 AM JST - 27th April

New Yorkers' true feelings for the NYPD came out after 9/11. Remember all the outpouring of grief over the death of all those firemen. Hardly a tear was shed for the cops who died in the attack.

Your level of absurdity is at about here (raising my hand over my head). We could use you at about here (lowering my hand to my waist).
Suzu1 at 06:39 AM JST - 27th April

Jean Colmar once again proves that his lack of knowledge will never prevent him from posting ridiculous comments. The judge in the case has convicted police officers before. In this case, however, he listened to the evidence and made a judgment based on the credibility of the witnesses. The prosecution witnesses contradicted themselves repeatedly. Their thuggish demeanor on the stand didn't help the case either. Unfortunately in this case the media has only used their side in stories.
The NYPD is highly respected by New Yorkers and visitors worldwide. You obviously have no direct knowledge and are projecting your insecurities and resentments.
keech2 at 01:13 PM JST - 27th April

Here are some links about the trial. In every article, it is stated that the judge found that the prosecution witnesses' testimonies were inconsistent and contradictory. And that is why he found the cops innocent. http://us.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/25/sunny.bell/index.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nycrime/2008/04/26/2008-04-26godlikejudgedeliversseanbell_verdict.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/nyregion/27brown.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin
SuperLib at 05:02 PM JST - 27th April

Well I can't say the cops were innocent, either...
keech2 at 08:03 AM JST - 28th April

SuperLib,

True. Bad choice of words. I should have wrote not guilty.