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Just under three hours. That's all it took for the defense to present its case in a beating death trial in Schuylkill County. When the defense rested before lunch, people were shocked.
"I was really surprised. I thought it would last about three weeks," said Frank Schuettler of Port Carbon.
Brendan Piekarsky's and Derrick Donchak's lawyers called four witnesses Thursday morning, attempting to prove the teens aren't responsible for the death of Luis Ramirez.
Neither young man had a comment as they left the courthouse after testimony wrapped up on day four of the deadly beating trial.
People in court were surprised at how quickly the trial is moving and so are people in Pottsville who have been following the trial.
"I thought it would go longer. I thought it would go longer because of the situation," said John Sullivan of Pottsville. "It's ust intriguing. I just hope something good comes of it."
On the final day of testimony, the defense called two police officers who responded to the scene the night of the beating last July. Both spoke about Ariel Garcia, who had testified Wednesday.
Garcia was friends with Luis Ramirez and was there the night of the fight. She said she couldn't remember who was there but both officers said they heard her name one boy who was there that night, Brian Scully.
The defense also called Anthony Carroll from the district attorney's office. Lawyers asked him why he never asked to see Brian Scully's shoes since several people who were there that night said the person who kicked Ramirez in the head was wearing white sneakers.
Carrol said he didn't think it was necessary.
Both defense attorneys tried to show that it was other boys who were there that night who were responsible for the deadly beating.
Police said Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak are responsible for brutally beating Luis Ramirez, 25, to death and yelling racial slurs.
Piekarsky is charged with third-degree murder and Donchak is charged with aggravated assault. Both are charged with ethnic intimidation.
The trial isn't over yet, but people in Pottsville are glad it's moving quickly.
Some are hoping for an acquittal. "For me, I say not guilty. Illegal. He's illegal," Schuettler added.
Others hope for a conviction. "I think it would bring a lot of peace, peace of mind to a lot of people around here, especially to the Mexican community, Spanish community," said Carl Ransome of Pottsville. "I feel his pain. I hope they make the right choice. I hope they don't let this go."
Closing arguments are set for Friday morning. The judge said the jury should begin deliberating by Friday afternoon.
"I was really surprised. I thought it would last about three weeks," said Frank Schuettler of Port Carbon.
Brendan Piekarsky's and Derrick Donchak's lawyers called four witnesses Thursday morning, attempting to prove the teens aren't responsible for the death of Luis Ramirez.
Neither young man had a comment as they left the courthouse after testimony wrapped up on day four of the deadly beating trial.
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"I thought it would go longer. I thought it would go longer because of the situation," said John Sullivan of Pottsville. "It's ust intriguing. I just hope something good comes of it."
On the final day of testimony, the defense called two police officers who responded to the scene the night of the beating last July. Both spoke about Ariel Garcia, who had testified Wednesday.
Garcia was friends with Luis Ramirez and was there the night of the fight. She said she couldn't remember who was there but both officers said they heard her name one boy who was there that night, Brian Scully.
The defense also called Anthony Carroll from the district attorney's office. Lawyers asked him why he never asked to see Brian Scully's shoes since several people who were there that night said the person who kicked Ramirez in the head was wearing white sneakers.
Carrol said he didn't think it was necessary.
Both defense attorneys tried to show that it was other boys who were there that night who were responsible for the deadly beating.
Police said Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak are responsible for brutally beating Luis Ramirez, 25, to death and yelling racial slurs.
Piekarsky is charged with third-degree murder and Donchak is charged with aggravated assault. Both are charged with ethnic intimidation.
The trial isn't over yet, but people in Pottsville are glad it's moving quickly.
Some are hoping for an acquittal. "For me, I say not guilty. Illegal. He's illegal," Schuettler added.
Others hope for a conviction. "I think it would bring a lot of peace, peace of mind to a lot of people around here, especially to the Mexican community, Spanish community," said Carl Ransome of Pottsville. "I feel his pain. I hope they make the right choice. I hope they don't let this go."
Closing arguments are set for Friday morning. The judge said the jury should begin deliberating by Friday afternoon.
