Update: Sean Bell Trial Gets More Complex

Last week, the New York Times reported that one of police shooting victim Sean Bell's friends has testified that he heard Bell arguing with someone outside of Club Kalua the night he was killed, and that the man had threatened to kill him.

The story has tons more detail including one of the main witnesses, Jean Nelson, giving testimony that corroborates the defense of three police detectives accused of shooting bell to death; how Bell's autopsy revealed that his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit to drive.

The case is getting deeper as it goes on this week with more witnesses. ...

The testimony of Det. Gescard Isnora, may or may not turn the trial one way or the other. He said he shouted "police!" several times, but the prosecution argues that nobody ever identified themselves as cops. This Times article from a few days ago details the testimony and even offers a .pdf on what he said.

But this video details a radio transmission released by the New York Police Department with Det. Michael Oliver, who fired 31 of the 50 bullets fired at Bell. It shows that he radioed his fellow officers that shots were being fired and that he was calling for backup.

This is not going to get any less confusing as the testimonies continue. The question I haven't heard answered though, and it may well be very soon, is: how much time alloted between the time you thought a passenger in Bell's car had a gun and when you started firing.

To me, that would make the trial open and shut. And maybe one way or the other, justice can be meted out swiftly.

Of the 50 caps the cops unloaded that night, 16 of them hit Joseph Guzman. Bell's friend testified this week. Four bullets are still in this guy's body.

"This dude is shooting like he's crazy, like he's out of his mind," Guzman testified at the trial of three undercover officers.

Guzman was quarrelsome, according to news reports, telling lawyers "You didn't do your homework."