June 28, 1999

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today issued the following statement in connection with the jury's decision to sentence George Davis Bell to life without parole for the murder of Police Officer Charles Davis and businessman Ira Epstein:

"I am certain that the jury's decision that the defendant spend the rest of his life in prison without any possibility of parole rather than to impose the death penalty was made after much deliberation and soul searching. I accept the jury's decision."

"I want to commend the prosecution team - - Assistant District Attorneys Charles A. Testagrossa, Brad A. Leventhal, Ira A. Dorfman and Linda Cantoni - - for their professionalism in the handling of this most difficult case."

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