David Bell was acquitted in mid-September on all three counts of kidnapping his neighbor's children. After deliberating for two and half hours, the jury found David James Bell not guilty. To view the video of David Bell after leaving the courtroom, click here.
Bell was very relieved, and said justice was served and he's glad to be able to move on, because his life has been on hold for over a year. The children's family left the courtroom very upset.
Over a July 4th weekend party in 2008, two neighbor children disappeared during a party. The kids were found next door in Bell's home, and before the police arrived Bell and his partner, Dan Fair had been beaten. Bell told investigators the children wandered over during the party, and he said the family members beat them up.
Bell's lawyer said the charges should have never been brought against Bell, and that the district attorney should file assault charges against the family members who beat him.
Yesterday, David James Bell held a press conference to tell his side of the story, which follows:
He had joined in his neighbor's late night party, chatting, singing and having a drink. He walked back home to refill his glass, and found two of the neighbors' children in his yard, asking for Kool-Aid.
Bell gave them a soft drink, at which point the children's mother came charging at him, slapping him and screaming. Then more neighbors came over, Bell said, breaking in doors and windows, beating him, slashing him with glass shards and slamming his head into his driveway. His partner, Daniel Fair, was also assaulted.
The Police were called, and the neighbors told them Bell had lured the children into his home, and that was the entire investigation, he said.
Bell and his attorneys said that the South Salt Lake police spoke only briefly with people who were in Bell's home, took names and listened for a few minutes. Megan Dunyon, who was sleeping in Bell's home when the violence began wasn’t questioned, nor did any investigator return her call asking for a chance to tell the other side of the story.
Bell wants those who beat him charged, convicted, imprisoned and given counseling. "As long as the people who attacked me are free," he said, "I am not."
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will decide whether charges will be filed against the neighbors. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that prosecutor Alicia Cook stated that the office would take another look.
Related article:
David Bell acquitted on all counts in Salt Lake kidnapping case
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