BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Convicted cop-killer Russell Bell will not be getting out of prison any time soon.
Members of the Ohio Adult Parole Board on Thursday denied parole for Mr. Bell, who was convicted of the 1978 slaying of Cincinnati Police Officer Charles Burdsall, said Joe Andrews, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Mr. Bell won't be eligible for parole again until 2008.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters, who earlier this month wrote a letter asking the parole board to deny the release, said he's happy with the decision.
"Anyone who is involved in the killing of a police officer should be executed," Mr. Deters said. "If they're not, then they should spend the rest of their life in prison."
in 1978 In July 1978, Officer Burdsall responded to a reported robbery at a Camp Washington convenience store. He stopped Mr. Bell and Wayne Reed, who had driven away. The two men got out on opposite sides of the car. Mr. Reed shot Officer Burdsall in the face and then twice in the back.
Mr. Bell was originally sentenced to death, but that was overturned when the U.S. Supreme Court declared death penalties unconstitutional in the 1980s. This was Mr. Bell's first parole hearing.
Mr. Bell's attorney, Dave Otto, said the decision is an example of there being a substantial difference between what is just and what is lawful.
"Here's a man who is convicted of much more than he was guilty of," said Mr. Otto, adding that Mr. Bell did not shoot the officer and wasn't aware that Mr. Reed had a gun. "Russell trusts in the Lord. He's in good spirits considering."
