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April 28, 2008
Posted: 01:42 PM ET

NEW YORK – All weekend, people have been asking me what I think about the acquittals of those three cops who shot and killed Sean Bell.

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Jami Floyd gets the Last Word again.

Most of all, I feel for his parents and fiancĂ©e who sat in that courtroom, day after day, quietly hoping for justice. Then they heard the judge say the words “not guilty.”

Now, I know there has been case after sorry case of unjustified killings of black men by cops in this country. But each one has to be evaluated on its own merits. And everyone is presumed innocent, police included.

Even with 50 shots fired, the prosecution failed to make its case beyond a reasonable doubt because it couldn’t prove the cops were not in fear for their lives. And that’s what the law required.

So now, Sean Bell’s family should take it to the Department of Justice. Because federal prosecutors can likely prove his civil rights were violated — even if state prosecutors can’t prove a crime.

And that’s the Last Word.

Jami Floyd, In Session anchor

Filed under: Jami Floyd • Last Word • Sean Bell


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Sidebar takes you behind the scenes of the day's legal headlines with breaking news and in-depth analysis from In Session's anchors and correspondents.

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Ashleigh Banfield
Co-anchor of the daily trial program Banfield and Ford: Courtside
Ashleigh Banfield
Jack Ford
A former prosecutor and co-anchor of the daily trial program Banfield & Ford: Courtside
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Anchor of the daily trial program Lisa Bloom: Open Court
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Jami Floyd
Former defense attorney and anchor of her own daily program Jami Floyd: Best Defense
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Jean Casarez
Beth Karas
Former prosecutor Beth Karas covers trials around the country
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