The foreman of the jury that aquitted two teens of all serious charges in the beating death of an illegal immigrant believes some of the jurors were racist. He said he thinks they had their mind made up from the start.
At the Schuylkill County courthouse on Friday, the all-white jury of six men and six women acquitted Brandon Piekarsky of third-degree murder and Derrick Donchak of aggravated assault in the beating death of Luis Ramirez.
Jury foreman Eric Maclin said he believed the teens were guilty of those serious charges, but that the evidence just was not there to convict them. He said he feels for the family of Luis Ramirez. "I think they have to go on with the knowledge that these two boys got away with a horrible crime," he said.
Late Friday night the jury in Pottsville found 17-year-old Piekarsky and 19-year-old Donchak guilty of simple assault in the beating death of the illegal immigrant.
"I do believe that our verdict was a fair verdict given the evidence and the testimony that we had to work with. But I do believe that the four boys, and especially the two that were on trial, are guilty of those crimes, but there was not enough evidence to convict them beyond a reasonable doubt," added Maclin.
The verdict came more than seven hours after the jury began deliberating on Friday.
"Greatly relieved. It was a long process. We've been fighting this case for lots of months. It was highly charged obviously," said Fred Fanelli, Piekarsky's attorney.
"It was a long case and the jury has rendered their verdict and they took a long time and deliberated their case. We respect their verdict," said Schuylkill County District Attorney James Goodwin.
The jury foreman said there was a lot of racial tension in the courtroom and in the jury deliberation room.
"I believe strongly that some of the people on the jury were racist. I believe strongly that some of the people on the jury had their minds made up maybe before the first day of trial," said Maclin. "And I believe the four boys that were involved the most are racist. I absolutely do. Derrick Donchak wore a US Border Patrol t-shirt to a Halloween party after Luis died. That is racist. That is beyond in bad taste. That is horrible."
Maclin said for most of the deliberations he was the only one who thought the teens were guilty. Now he feels bad that no one will be held accountable for Ramirez's death.
"Justice was not done for Luis Ramirez but as I said, we gave the verdict that we had to give based on the testimony and the evidence that we had to go on," said Maclin.
Piekarsky and Donchak will be sentenced at a later date. Simple assault is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum of two years in prison.
At the Schuylkill County courthouse on Friday, the all-white jury of six men and six women acquitted Brandon Piekarsky of third-degree murder and Derrick Donchak of aggravated assault in the beating death of Luis Ramirez.
Jury foreman Eric Maclin said he believed the teens were guilty of those serious charges, but that the evidence just was not there to convict them. He said he feels for the family of Luis Ramirez. "I think they have to go on with the knowledge that these two boys got away with a horrible crime," he said.
Late Friday night the jury in Pottsville found 17-year-old Piekarsky and 19-year-old Donchak guilty of simple assault in the beating death of the illegal immigrant.
"I do believe that our verdict was a fair verdict given the evidence and the testimony that we had to work with. But I do believe that the four boys, and especially the two that were on trial, are guilty of those crimes, but there was not enough evidence to convict them beyond a reasonable doubt," added Maclin.
The verdict came more than seven hours after the jury began deliberating on Friday.
"Greatly relieved. It was a long process. We've been fighting this case for lots of months. It was highly charged obviously," said Fred Fanelli, Piekarsky's attorney.
"It was a long case and the jury has rendered their verdict and they took a long time and deliberated their case. We respect their verdict," said Schuylkill County District Attorney James Goodwin.
The jury foreman said there was a lot of racial tension in the courtroom and in the jury deliberation room.
"I believe strongly that some of the people on the jury were racist. I believe strongly that some of the people on the jury had their minds made up maybe before the first day of trial," said Maclin. "And I believe the four boys that were involved the most are racist. I absolutely do. Derrick Donchak wore a US Border Patrol t-shirt to a Halloween party after Luis died. That is racist. That is beyond in bad taste. That is horrible."
Maclin said for most of the deliberations he was the only one who thought the teens were guilty. Now he feels bad that no one will be held accountable for Ramirez's death.
"Justice was not done for Luis Ramirez but as I said, we gave the verdict that we had to give based on the testimony and the evidence that we had to go on," said Maclin.
Piekarsky and Donchak will be sentenced at a later date. Simple assault is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum of two years in prison.
