Gothamist: Sean Bell's Friend Told Cops: "Please Don't Shoot Me"

Art Stewel

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:33:43 -0500

They should walk, or there has been a miscarriage. Yeah, those cops screwed up, but this whole trial is a circus show to placate certain elements that are self interested in lining their pockets at the expense of decency and honesty. Calling that a 'suit' is as ridiculous as saying Trent got a 'loan.'

adriane

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:57:32 -0500

Im sick of this news!!!

Snoopy

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:50:14 -0500

Due to fiscal cutbacks the city doesn't provide a firing range for cops. It's a shame.

Muscley Armed Paper Boy

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:35:43 -0500

Folks, C'MON! He clearly said "I've got nothing to do with nothing," which is a double negative, meaning he didn't have anything to do with nothing, he had something to do with..SOMETHING (which was breaking the law)." The cops were right to shoot him.

MyWittyName

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:07:40 -0500

Nice suit.

TKaisen

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:59:37 -0500

I am still floored by the whole "shot 19 times" and "still alive" thing. Seriously.... copious man points.

Snoopy

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:50:23 -0500

Would you buy a set of tires from a dude dressed and looking like that? Maybe in a dark alley if you were armed.

Politburo

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:45:21 -0500

"But I'm surprised at the prosecution for not providing an explanation of why the testimonies may have been different." My guess is because it doesn't help their case to dwell on the inconsistent testimonies of one of their witnesses.

Jen Chung

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:31:28 -0500

I think it's interesting Benefield's testimony differed between yesterday and the grand jury. I understand testimony taken after being shot a few times may be different. And I could understand, given that it's been a year and a half, a person's recollection might be different. But I'm surprised at the prosecution for not providing an explanation of why the testimonies may have been different.

Phineas Gage

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:26:41 -0500

The racist comments are really out of control on this otherwise good site. You guys should try a medium more suited to your level of intelligence, like perhaps talk radio or books with lots of pictures.

eyekantspel

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:24:54 -0500

An admission against interest gained on cross doesn't make statements made on direct more credible. Still, the fact that he's a flawed witness doesn't make him a liar. Those determinations are probably best made by the trier of fact, not people reading selected quotes in the paper or on Gothamist.

Politburo

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:06:22 -0500

If he's not credible, then he's not credible. That means the statement "another club patron's posture suggested he was armed" is also not credible. Also, the article says he works at a tire store.

Mike D

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:31:13 -0500

Seriously: Not a credible witness.

JenChungsThong

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:29:57 -0500

'Nothing to do with nothing'= something to do with something. Oh, sorry, he was speaking Ebonics, have to use a different decoder book.

Spear_Chucker

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:20:59 -0500

How does one qualify for a loan from Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network? Are credit checks involved? Or do you just have to be black and preferably shot by the NYPD?

Snoopy

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:06:42 -0500

"Has not been able to return to work." Which means he can't outrun the cops when he is getting busted for selling drugs? He's a believable witness. Yeh sure.