Charges in a high-profile case in Schuylkill County will be dropped. The case involves the murder of an illegal immigrant last year alledgly at the hands of three teenagers, all from Shenandoah.
Brandon Piekarsky, Colin Walsh and Derrick Donchakwere charged in connection with the beating death of Luis Ramirez of Shenandoah.
Officials said Ramirez was beaten near his home last year after getting into a fight with the trio. He died several days later in a hospital.
When the teens were arrested last year prosecutors also charged the three with ethnic intimidation. Investigators said the three yelled racial slurs at Ramirez.
"I came back from the city. I moved here and can't believe there is so much hatred to do a beating like this," witness Eileen Burke said last year.
Sources said all charges, including third-degree murder, will be dropped against Colin Walsh.
That decision was made last week after Walsh pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related the Ramirez's federal civil rights. Details are sketchy because the records have been sealed and made secret by a federal judge.
In return for that federal plea, sources said Walsh will testify against his two friends, Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak.
Efforts to contact several defense lawyers for the three and the district attorney were unsucessful. The judge in the case declined to comment.
Brandon Piekarsky, Colin Walsh and Derrick Donchakwere charged in connection with the beating death of Luis Ramirez of Shenandoah.
 |
When the teens were arrested last year prosecutors also charged the three with ethnic intimidation. Investigators said the three yelled racial slurs at Ramirez.
"I came back from the city. I moved here and can't believe there is so much hatred to do a beating like this," witness Eileen Burke said last year.
Sources said all charges, including third-degree murder, will be dropped against Colin Walsh.
That decision was made last week after Walsh pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related the Ramirez's federal civil rights. Details are sketchy because the records have been sealed and made secret by a federal judge.
In return for that federal plea, sources said Walsh will testify against his two friends, Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak.
|
