TAMPA, Fla. — A tense and emotional fifth day of testimony in the murder trial of 4-year-old Suni Bell ended in chaos Monday, after one of the defendants shouted over prosecutors during their closing arguments.
Zvante Sampson is on trial alongside Quandarious Hammond, Jaylin Bedward, James Denson, and Andrew Thompson. All five men are accused of shooting into a car in August 2021, killing Bell, who was riding in the backseat.
Watch full report from Jada Williams
None of the five defense attorneys in this trial brought forth witnesses on their clients' behalf. However, one of the defendants expressed possible regret duringthe closings.
Throughout the day, prosecutors Anna Ismer and John Terry urged jurors to focus on the devastating outcome of the gunfire, telling them the men acted with disregard for life.
“The law does not require us to prove which defendant fired the fatal bullet,” Ismer argued, “only that they were acting together when they fired into that car.”
Defense attorneys countered that the state had failed to connect any of their clients directly to the fatal shot.
Daniel Hernandez, who represents Bedward, told jurors the state had built its case on “assumptions and speculation” instead of hard proof.
Hernandez reminded the panel that Bedward was not charged with firing a weapon.
“There is no direct evidence that the defendant was a principal or co-conspirator in this case,” he said. “There is no direct evidence of premeditation. There’s nothing. No statements, no text, nothing in this case.”
He stressed that jurors had to judge his client separately from the four other men on trial.
“We have five defendants being tried together, but you have five separate trials,” Hernandez said. “My client is Jaylin Bedward. Please take a good look at him separately. These references to ‘they’ are not enough. Speculation is not part of the equation.”
As closing arguments moved forward Monday afternoon, the tension inside the Hillsborough County courtroom boiled over. Sampson suddenly interrupted the prosecution, standing and shouting in front of the jurors and the victim’s family.
“Somebody shot me and I shot back,” Sampson yelled. “I feel sorry for the little girl, but somebody shot me and I shot back.”
Sampson was escorted out of the courtroom and spent the rest of the trial watching via a TV in a holding room.
All four attorneys asked for a mistrial, but Judge Robin Fuson denied those requests. He ordered the jurors to not treat the outburst as evidence.
Watch the video of the incident
Sampson’s attorney later addressed jurors directly about the outburst.
“I’d also like to apologize on his behalf as well to you,” the attorney said. “This, to put it mildly, has been a very emotional process for everyone, and it has taken its toll on Mr. Sampson as well.”
The lawyer reminded jurors of their promise during jury selection: to weigh the evidence against each defendant individually.
“You know, all of us have our commitments, and all of us have our jobs and our families and our personal obligations,” the attorney said. “As we sit here for these days listening to this testimony, the evidence, the admitted documents, the videos, I think that we all understand how important this whole process is.”
He argued the state’s case rested on “pure speculation,” urging jurors to focus on the Chevron videos, the East Tampa Gun and Pawn footage and the Lorenzo’s Garage recording.
“Look at it in real time too,” the lawyer said. “Because, as the state has indicated to you, this happened in a very, very short period of chaotic time.”
The defense attorney also warned jurors not to let emotions drive their verdict.
“You can and you should have sympathy. Sympathy is an emotion. Sympathy is sometimes something that you can’t just work around,” he said. “But verdicts in this case must be based on the law, not based on any sympathy for victims under the law, Suni Bell, Willie Brown, Mary Harrison, or based on any anger that you may have toward any one of these defendants, in particular, in my circumstance, over the horrible outcome that happened here, or even his outburst in such an emotional state this morning.”
He repeatedly challenged the state’s reliance on the theory of principals — that a defendant can be found guilty of another’s actions if they aided or abetted.
“When you have multiple defendants and you have multiple counts, you cannot just operate in a vacuum,” he said. “What in that video shows you that he did some act or said something that was intended to and that did incite, cause, encourage or assist or advise anyone to commit a murder?”
On August 22, 2021, four-year-old Suni Bell was riding in the back seat of a vehicle with two adults—her mom and uncle—when a second car drove up and someone began shooting.
On Sept. 30, 2021, officials indicted and arrested Zvante Sampson, Quandarious Hammond, Jaylin Bedward, James Denson, and Andrew Thompson.
Day 4: State prosecutors rest in the trial of the murder of 4-year-old Suni Bell
On Friday, the prosecution concluded its presentation of the case against the five suspects.
Day 3: Lead detective testified at trial in the murder of 4-year-old Suni Bell
On Thursday, they focused heavily on testimony from the lead detective in the investigation.
Day 2: Trial in the murder of 4-year-old Suni Bell continues
On Wednesday, the trial focused heavily on the initial response from law enforcement after the shooting.
Day 1: Trial starts in the murder of 4-year-old Suni Bell
Suni's mother, Mary Harrison, gave an emotional testimony in court on Tuesday.
MORE: Family holds vigil for 4-year-old shot, killed in Tampa while riding in a car
Share Your Story with Jada
Jada Williams is focused on the issues that matter most to people in Hillsborough County. From downtown Tampa to Apollo Beach, Jada works to bring you updates and solutions on everything from crime to infrastructure. Reach out to Jada below with your concerns for your neighborhood.
.
Tampa Bay locals stranded as Hurricane Melissa ravages Jamaica
Polk County woman on honeymoon and Tampa restaurant owner among those unable to evacuate as catastrophic hurricane makes landfall with 185 mph winds.
