An Essex County jury yesterday acquitted a Newark police officer yesterday on attempted murder charges in connection with shooting and critically wounding an unarmed man during an off-duty dispute. Officer David Lamarr broke down in tears after a jury in Superior Court in Newark took less than four hours to find him not guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault and a weapons offense. Moments after the verdict, Lamarr ran into the arms of his sobbing supporters, who chanted "hallelujah" and "Thank you, Lord" as they gathered around the officer. Prosecution witnesses claimed Lamarr shot Paul Godley on July 27, 2003, outside the Stephen Crane Elderly Homes in the city's North Ward as Godley was opening his arms to show he had no gun. But Lamarr, who took the witness stand in his own defense on Tuesday, claimed that Godley was threatening his life and reaching for what appeared to be a bulge under his shirt when he shot him once in the stomach. No weapon was found at the scene.  Anthony Fusco, Lamarr's attorney, said he believed the jury found Lamarr more believable than Godley, a convicted criminal, and two other eyewitnesses called by the prosecution. Fusco said he is convinced the prosecution witnesses were seeking to gain from a lawsuit that Godley is initiating against Lamarr and the Newark Police Department. "This whole case came down to a question of character," Fusco said. "The jury believed him and not the state's witnesses, who were just in it for the buck." Fusco said Lamarr could still face departmental charges but that he will fight vigorously for the return of his gun and badge.  Larry Hamm, chairman of the People's Organization for Progress, a Newark-based human rights group, said he was disappointed that the officer was cleared of shooting an unarmed man. "I stunned, but I'm not surprised," he said. "This is usually the outcome of cases involving police brutality or the use of excessive force. It is very rare in these cases that the verdict comes back in favor of the victims." [more]