The case against three cops accused of killing Sean Bell was built on a “parade of convicted felons,” defense lawyers said during closing arguments today.
James Culleton, who represents Detective Michael Oliver, blasted the prosecution’s case and said the Queens DA used unreliable testimony from Bell’s friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, to try and convict the cops.
Oliver, Gescard Isnora and Marc Cooper are accused of firing 50 shots that killed Bell on Nov. 26, 2006 outside Club Kalua, a strip joint in Jamaica where the 23-year-old father of two held his bachelor party.
Culleton labeled Bell’s friends as a “parade of convicted felons, crack dealers and men who were no strangers to weapons.”
Oliver fired 31 shots – including the fatal bullet that killed Bell on his wedding day.
“He called for help,” Culleton said of Oliver’s radio call requesting an ambulance after the shooting.
“This doesn’t sound like someone involved.ñ.ñ. in an execution,” Culleton said, as he argued the detectives fired in self-defense.
Assistant DA Charles Testagrossa countered the defense’s argument, calling Isnora’s account a “fabrication” and said cops used “excessive force.”
He said Oliver and Isnora “did not believe the threat of return fire was real because they did not take cover.”
Judge Arthur Cooperman, who will decide the case without a jury, announced he would render a verdict on April 25.
Isnora and Oliver are charged with manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment. Cooper, who fired four shots, is charged with reckless endangerment.
Guzman and Benefield, who were wounded and have each filed $50 million lawsuits against the city, testified that cops did not identify themselves before shooting.
Paul Martin, Cooper’s lawyer, said it was Guzman’s actions and the threat he was going get a gun that precipitated the deadly chain-of-events.
“[Guzman] was the only person who had the testicular fortitude to go get a gun, come back and take somebody out,” Martin said.
The remarks drew hisses from the crowd.
Isnora, who fired 11 times, said in his grand jury testimony he believed Guzman was reaching for a gun.
No gun was found.