The three people charged in connection with the beating death of an illegal immigrant in Shenandoah were back in court Thursday, and so were quite a few of their supporters.
Luis Ramirez died this summer after what police called a racially- motivated beating in Shenandoah by a trio of teens.
Derrick Donchak is one of the three suspects from Shenandoah. He's charged with aggravated assault.
"He's a young man that would like to get through this, make amends and move on," said defense attorney Jeff Markosky.
Donchak's friends, Brandon Piekarsky and Colin Walsh are charged with third degree murder. They were in court asking a judge to drop the charges against them. He will rule at a later date.
The case had drawn international attention. Representatives of the Mexican government were in court along with MALDEF, a civil rights group for Latinos. Luis Ramirez was an illegal immigrant. Those groups wouldn't comment but supporters of the Shenandoah three did.
"If he hadn't had been here would he have died? Would any of this had happened if he hadn't been here? Would any of this had happened if the law enforcement had gotten him out of the country and kept him out of the country?" asked Debbie Rabold of Effort.
Wendy Medachefski of Shenandoah said she has talked to the accused families. "Of course they are very upset and stressed out. They're nervous. They don't know what's going to happen. They might lose their sons and that might happen," Medachefski said.
The trio should go on trial sometime next year. One of the issues before the judge is should they be tried separately or as a group.
Luis Ramirez died this summer after what police called a racially- motivated beating in Shenandoah by a trio of teens.
 Derrick Donchak |
"He's a young man that would like to get through this, make amends and move on," said defense attorney Jeff Markosky.
Donchak's friends, Brandon Piekarsky and Colin Walsh are charged with third degree murder. They were in court asking a judge to drop the charges against them. He will rule at a later date.
The case had drawn international attention. Representatives of the Mexican government were in court along with MALDEF, a civil rights group for Latinos. Luis Ramirez was an illegal immigrant. Those groups wouldn't comment but supporters of the Shenandoah three did.
Brandon Piekarsky |
Wendy Medachefski of Shenandoah said she has talked to the accused families. "Of course they are very upset and stressed out. They're nervous. They don't know what's going to happen. They might lose their sons and that might happen," Medachefski said.
The trio should go on trial sometime next year. One of the issues before the judge is should they be tried separately or as a group.
Colin Walsh |
