On Monday, Queens prosecutors brought evidence before a grand jury investigating the fatal killing of Sean Bell, 23, by plainclothes police officers in Queens on his would-be wedding day, Nov. 25, as he left his bachelor party at the Kalua Cabaret with two friends. Many of Bell’s relatives and friends gathered outside the Queens Supreme Court to protest what has so far been an extremely slow investigation and to call for a new prosecutor who will not draw out the trial, as the current one is expected to with the presentation of 40 to 50 witnesses. According to police defense lawyers, the 50-round firing was justified because the officers believed Bell’s friend, Joseph Guzman, 31, was reaching for a gun. Sanford Rubenstein, the lawyer for Guzman and Trent Benefield (who was also in the car that night), 23, says both men are adamant about testifying.
According to sources, the officer who could be most vulnerable to prosecution is Detective Mike Oliver, as he fired 31 shots, including the four that killed Bell. Investigators do not yet know who fired the bullets that wounded Guzman and Benefield, as the rounds are stilled lodged in them. Also this week, City Council speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) held the first of a series of town meetings regarding NYPD performance, a process many believe may be an attempt to oust Police Commissioner Ray Kelly because of his handling of the Bell shooting (though Quinn has stated that she has confidence in Kelly). Some community members who spoke at the meeting have accused members of the Police Department of racism.
