San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women

Resolution Recognizing Beverly Upton

 

BE IT KNOWN That the Commission on the Status of Women of the City & County of San Francisco hereby issues and authorizes the execution, by the subscribing Commissioners, of the following commendation:

 

WHEREAS, In the case of People vs. Lee Bell where Lee Bell was charged with brutally murdering his former girlfriend Pearla Louis, Assistant District Attorney J. Michael Swart skillfully presented the facts that demonstrated Mr. Bell’s pattern of sustained and extreme violence and persuaded a jury of the people to come to a verdict of murder in the first degree, bringing some measure of closure to Pearla Louis’ family after a 7-year wait since the tragic murder; and,

WHEREAS, The case offers key lessons on how San Francisco handles domestic violence homicides, including the importance of victim advocates who support the surviving family members throughout the trial proceedings and beyond; the case benefited greatly from the support District Attorney Victim Witness Advocate Karima Baptiste, Delia Ginorio of the Sheriff’s Department, Nancy Rock, a community advocate, and Beverly Upton of the Domestic Violence Consortium; and,

WHEREAS, The Commission and Department will continue to focus efforts on ending domestic violence in San Francisco in partnership with the law enforcement agencies and community-based agencies and advocates.

NOW THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED That the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women expresses its deepest appreciation to Beverly Upton for her extraordinary work supporting the family of Pearla Louis intensively for an extended period of time and making a significant difference in the lives of those most affected by the tragic murder.

Olga A. Ryerson                    Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz            Julie D. Soo              Breanna Zwart

San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women
August 23, 2017