Comments about ‘Man to sue neighbors over beating’

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He was accused of kidnapping 2 kids but was acquitted

Published: Tuesday, Oct. 6 2009 1:03 a.m. MDT

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Anonymous

Good! The animosity toward gays must stop! If the only way to do that is fight in the courts, then so be it!

Sue Them All

Sue the neighbors. Sue the police. Sue the D.A.. Show us all how they screwed up this case. Don't stop!!!!!

disagree

this was not a hate crime because he is Gay. It was a hate crime because he took the kids. The Gay movement needs to stop their animosity towards the general public.

Justice

This has nothing to do with the fact that he is gay. It has everything to do with justice. Gay or straight, this man was wronged and he should sue to see justice. It is unacceptable for anyone in this society, let alone a gang of people, to beat up and assault another citizen. We need order and justice in society and that's why we have the court system.

Why do gay people hate me?

I see so many gay people hating everyone because they feel everyone is out to get them. They turn into the thing they say they are fighting against. INTOLERANCE of others. Not others hating them, just everyone else.

baloney.

He did not take the kids. He was acquitted. NOT GUILTY. The judge even verbally questioned why the case was ever brought to trial. They beat him because of mere perception, and possibly because he is gay.

you had me

until you said "you believed it turned into a hate crime." Well, everybody knows it started as a hate crime. In fact, all crimes are hate crimes. Especially when someone beats you up.

calm&rational

Bell should sue,; this incident has been mismanaged from the outset by those we trust to do so.

This is in all probability a hate crime, whether due to the victim's persuasion or race as the perpetrators were of one homogenous group and reacted disproportionately. Since when is retrieving Kool-aid that is not tainted with alcohol for the children worthy of such a heavyhanded response? The inebriated condition of the parents and fellow beaters does not absolve them in any way, no more than we excuse drunk drivers for the damage from their car accidents --- quite the contrary!

Certainly those involved in this beating failed their societal responisibilities, as did the police investigating this incident; a satisfactory reason has yet to be made for the police's ineptitude; an investigation should be made and official's heads should roll.

That prosecutors waited until two days before trial to contact one of the victims indicates a lack of commitment. Why? Did they already see just how botched the investigation was and knew how hopeless and in error their assigned task to prosecute these men was? Why else would one wait so long to interview the victim?

j

The beating only took place when the neighbor found the kids with him. They had been neighbors for a while without incident, I suppose. Also, he was with the neighbor singing prior to the beating, indicating the neighbor did not have a problem, I can't connect where the hate is if hate is the motive.

Better intention or not it would have been better had the adult neighbors (drunk or not) were contacted instead of taking the kids.

Regardless, those who did the beating need to be punished severly.

Jon

I think you should ask about these parents who were up partying all night and had no idea where the kids ended up. Why are the kids in this enviroment? Why is the mother not in trouble?

Bob

Bell clearly sounds like the victim here. However, I do not support a law suit against the police department. They are there to serve us and I think a tendency to sue everyone is part of what's wrong with America not part of the anwser. I do however feel very sorry for Bell.

Anonymous

I've never seen such hatemongering as there is in Salt Lake City.

Re: Anonymous 8:46

You haven't traveled very much, obviously.

To Bob at 8:30 pm

Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to get government agencies (including the police) to clean up their processes is to hit them with a civil suit. If they actually had done their duty and served us, as you believe they should, there would be no need for a lawsuit. However, just because someone puts on a uniform does not mean they are above the law.

Anarchy

This was a mob mentality that resulted in the lawless assult. If they felt a crime had been committed they should have called the police after they got their children back. Instead they were above it and took the law into their own hands and almost killed a human being. I hope the lawsuit results in the arrest of the neighbors and anyone else invold in attack. Mobs shouldn't rule...when they do we have anarchy.

Good Luck Bell,

I hope you win!!! It's getting so no one can even be nice to kids anymore. The parents should have been watching more closely so they knew where their children were. They are at fault for having the little ones bother neighbors, and the beating, Horrendus!!!

Anonymous

They threw a TV on this guys head. How can you defend that? And the cops didn't even investigate the beating, just focused only on the supposed kidnapping. The Bell's spent all their money defending the kidnapping charges which were defeated quickly. Of course they should sue, and they should win.

KC

If this man was beaten as described, his assailants should be serving long prison sentences.

Anonymous

If this doesn't fit the profile of a hate crime, what crime would?

Just another statistic

I've been run though a system that rewards the police and the district attorneys for immoral behavior, a system where convictions regardless of fact creates promotions. A system where the police can legally tell you that you failed a polygraph that you passed in order to coerce a confession. I've seen it all, and if not for some cool minds at the top such as these men found with the judge, could have been locked up for a long time. It's time we stop rewarding an oftentimes corrupt system with promotions and raises and start punishing for incompetance. I hope you 2 continue to raise public awareness in these situations.

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