The kids wanted Kool-Aid.
That's how two next-door neighbor children ended up at David James "DJ" Bell's home the morning of July 4, 2008 -- an event that led to Bell being beaten by the kids' parents, Bell being charged with child kidnapping and his acquittal by a jury last month.
Bell told his story to reporters at a Monday news conference where he announced that civil lawsuits would be filed against those who broke into Bell's house and beat him and his partner, Daniel Fair.
Defense attorney Susanne Gustin added that a lawsuit against the South Salt Lake Police Department was "a possibility." The defense claimed during trial that police conducted a shoddy investigation by failing to interview numerous witnesses, deploy the crime-scene investigation unit or collect crucial evidence, including blood-stained clothing worn by the alleged attackers.
South Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Snyder responded Monday: "We stand by the investigation." Snyder added that his department last year screened charges in both the child kidnapping case and the assaults on Bell and Fair with prosecutors.
Charges were never filed against the handful of people who allegedly attacked Bell and Fair. But following Bell's acquittal, a spokeswoman for the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office said prosecutors would take another look at the assault case.
Bell, who did not testify at trial, said Monday that after partying until dawn with his neighbors, he went home, refreshed his drink and was heading back to say good night when he saw two children -- a 2-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy -- in his yard.
The boy asked, "Is that Kool-Aid?"
Bell said he laughed and told the boy he couldn't have any of his alcoholic drink, but would get him some Kool-Aid from the house.
Bell said he filled two glasses and turned to see the children on his doorstep. After the children finished the Kool-Aid, Bell put the glasses in the sink and said, "Let's go find your mommy."
At that moment, the girl's mother, Lulu Latu, arrived, started screaming obscenities and hit Bell, knocking him into the refrigerator.
As Latu left with the children, Bell said she called him a pedophile, uttered a sexually oriented slur and told him to lock his doors because her family would be coming when they learned the children had been in his house.
Bell claimed the children remained in the doorway and never actually entered his home.
Moments later, someone broke a window trying to get into Fair's room. Bell, who tried to hold the front door shut, was dragged outside and his head was beaten against the concrete of his carport.
Bell said he still lives in fear of being attacked.
