District attorney defends handling of Bell case

Responding to jurors' comments criticizing the prosecution of David James Bell on child kidnapping and burglary charges, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office defended its handling of the case in a statement Sunday and said it "supports the jury's verdict."

The statement said the office's role is to evaluate evidence and to determine whether charges should be filed "without regard for the race, gender or beliefs of the individuals involved."

Supporters of Bell, who was accused of taking two young children into his South Salt Lake house during their relatives' all-night party next door, have said he was unfairly prosecuted because he is gay.

In media reports since his acquittal on Friday, jurors have called Bell's trial a waste of time and money and even a "travesty."

However, prosecutors say they simply did their job.

"In this case, the District Attorney's Office followed its own protocols in filing charges and taking the case to trial in order for the jury to decide whether the charges could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt," the statement said.

Deputy District Attorney Alicia Cook said prosecutors respect jury verdicts regardless of the outcome.

"We just wanted to emphasize what our role is and how we approach cases," she said.

Cook said no decision has been made on whether to charge the children's relatives, who allegedly beat Bell and his partner severely during the incident on July 4, 2006.