Guzman, who was shot 16 times by cops and lived, limped into the Queens courtroom leaning on a cane - more than six feet of piss, vinegar and street
aggression.
He recounted how on the night of Nov. 25, 2006, he said goodbye to his dying friend, Sean Bell - "I love you, son." Minutes later, he showed his
true colors: prison orange.
Defense attorney James Culleton brought up the ticklish fact that Guzman was twice convicted of felonies within seven years - the second for selling crack
within 1,000 feet of an elementary school.
"Who supplied you with the crack cocaine?" the lawyer asked. Guzman fired back with a sneer on his face and derision in his voice.
"What difference does that make?" he snorted.
Guzman reserved special ire for Anthony Ricco, the African-American attorney representing Detective Gescard Isnora on charges of manslaughter and reckless
endangerment.
Ricco reminded Guzman of his gunpoint-robbery conviction - later overturned on a technicality. Guzman pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
But Guzman changed the subject by narrowing his eyes and taunting the lawyer menacingly:
"This needs to happen in your family," he said to Ricco of Sean Bell's shooting.
Later, Ricco asked about a threat Guzman was said by witnesses to have made immediately before Bell was shot dead - "I'll get my gun."
And Guzman turned truly menacing.
"Where ya from?" he demanded of Ricco. "Where ya from?" The lawyer sensibly did not answer.
This case, a disaster for the prosecution, a nightmare for the community, is almost over. I'm glad.
With witnesses like these, who needs criminals?
aggression.
He recounted how on the night of Nov. 25, 2006, he said goodbye to his dying friend, Sean Bell - "I love you, son." Minutes later, he showed his
true colors: prison orange.
Defense attorney James Culleton brought up the ticklish fact that Guzman was twice convicted of felonies within seven years - the second for selling crack
within 1,000 feet of an elementary school.
"Who supplied you with the crack cocaine?" the lawyer asked. Guzman fired back with a sneer on his face and derision in his voice.
"What difference does that make?" he snorted.
Guzman reserved special ire for Anthony Ricco, the African-American attorney representing Detective Gescard Isnora on charges of manslaughter and reckless
endangerment.
Ricco reminded Guzman of his gunpoint-robbery conviction - later overturned on a technicality. Guzman pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
But Guzman changed the subject by narrowing his eyes and taunting the lawyer menacingly:
"This needs to happen in your family," he said to Ricco of Sean Bell's shooting.
Later, Ricco asked about a threat Guzman was said by witnesses to have made immediately before Bell was shot dead - "I'll get my gun."
And Guzman turned truly menacing.
"Where ya from?" he demanded of Ricco. "Where ya from?" The lawyer sensibly did not answer.
This case, a disaster for the prosecution, a nightmare for the community, is almost over. I'm glad.
With witnesses like these, who needs criminals?
