Teen Accuses Friends In Immigrant Slay

Testifies 2 Friends Punched, Kicked And Yelled Racial Slurs At Victim, Then Plotted Cover-Up

(CBS/AP)  A teenager testified Monday that two friends charged in the beating death of a Mexican illegal immigrant in a small Pennsylvania town punched and kicked the victim during a late-night, epithet-filled melee, then plotted to lie about it a day later.

A judge must decide if there is enough evidence against the pair and a third suspect to send the case to trial. Last month's death of Luis Ramirez has raised racial tensions in the town of Shenandoah, about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia, and yelling from protesters outside the courthouse forced a brief delay of Monday's preliminary hearing.

The teenage, Ben Lawson, 17, testified that Ramirez was fighting with one of the suspects, Derrick M. Donchak, when another, Colin Walsh, sucker-punched the victim, and that a third, Brandon Piekarsky then kicked Ramirez in the head while he lay motionless in the street.

Walsh, 17, and Piekarsky, 16, were charged as adults with homicide and ethnic intimidation. Donchak, 18, was charged with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and other offenses. All were football players at Shenandoah Valley High School.

Lawyers for Piekarsky and Walsh have said there is no evidence to support the homicide charges.

Testifying in a low, mumbly voice, Lawson said he had been drinking malt liquor in the woods with Walsh, Piekarsky, Donchak and other friends a few hours before the July 12 attack. He said he drank two 40-ounce bottles and was intoxicated.

Lawson said the group encountered Ramirez, 25, and a teenage girl in a park. He said another teen, Brian Scully, goaded the girl, saying, "Isn't it a little late for you to be out?"

When Ramirez replied in a threatening manner in Spanish, Scully began yelling racial slurs at Ramirez and a fight ensued, Lawson said.

He said Ramirez was fighting with Donchak when Walsh ran up and punched him in the face. Ramirez fell to the ground and hit his head on the macadam, leaving him unconscious, after which Piekarsky kicked him in the head, Lawson said.

The following day, he said, the group met at Piekarsky's house and hatched a plan to lie to police about what happened.

"We made up a plan that we we're going to tell the cops that nobody kicked him, that there were no racial slurs, there was no booze, and Brian got hit first," Lawson said.

Under cross-examination, Lawson said he had been pressured by FBI agents to recant an initial, incomplete statement he gave to police in favor of a later statement.

As the hearing got under way in Pottsville, about 10 miles south of Shenandoah, about 40 protesters outside the courthouse began yelling, prompting a defense attorney to complain about the distraction. The protesters, from workers' and immigrants' rights groups, were ordered to keep quiet or they'd be forced to move. The hearing was recessed for several minutes until the protesters quieted down.

Ramirez, who entered the U.S. illegally about six years ago, worked in a factory and picked strawberries and cherries. The victim's 24-year-old fiancee, who is white and grew up in Shenandoah, has said Ramirez was often called derogatory names and told to return to his homeland. The couple had two children together.

A group of girls that spoke to CBS News said they were shocked at the accused, "because they are nice boys."

"That's what I really don't understand," said one girl. "When I heard about it I was really surprised. I couldn't believe it was them."

About a month after Ramirez's murder, some people aren't allowed to talk and others are still too frightened to, reported CBS News correspondent Seth Doane. So trying to get a clear picture of what's really happening in Shenandoah isn't easy.

[omnibus66]

Criminal, a.[LL. criminalis, from crimen, a crime, fault.]
1. guilty of a crime.

- Websters Dictionary

Entering the U.S. without proper authorization is a crime. Yet these ''criminals'' are demanding their ''rights''.

Arrest them, prosecute them, let them spend about a year in prison, and then deport them. The simple act of enforcing the law is the solution to the problem.

It would help a lot to remove from office those elected officials who currently refuse to enforce immigration law.

[rushlimpdrug]

" . . About a month after Ramirez''s murder,
some people aren''t allowed to talk and others
are still too frightened to, reported CBS News
correspondent Seth Doane. So trying to get a clear picture of what''s really happening in Shenandoah isn''t easy."


Oh, I think it''s easy enought to get a clear picture
of what''s really happening.

The reporter just needs to open his eyes.

[u-r-right]

Tragic loss of life, yes. But was it self defense?

Now would be a good time to check the status of all who are protesting there. I''m sure a sizeable percentage of them are illegal and should be deported.

[wellhell3]

Frankly I don''t trust anything put out by the media anymore. I haven''t seen the details or hear the testimony.

Texas is rife with immigrant problems. Some of them are arrogant and abusive. Mess around with the wrong people at the wrong time, and sometimes you get what you deserve. Had he not broken the law and entered Texas illegally, he would be home where he belongs, and alive.

[wellhell3]

Frankly I don''''t trust anything put out by the media anymore. I haven''''t seen the details or hear the testimony.

Texas is rife with immigrant problems. Some of them are arrogant and abusive. Mess around with the wrong people at the wrong time, and sometimes you get what you deserve. Had he not broken the law and entered Texas illegally, he would be home where he belongs, and alive.


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Posted by WellHell3 at 02:22 PM : Aug 18, 2008

Ooops, wrong state, PA! Whatever.

[gop_forever]

Who will work this mans machine? Will the company that employs this illegal alien be compensated for his lost productivity?

[kenammons]

see illegal invaders disrupt court. why don''t the cops there do the job and fire on the criminal illegals, and the judge do the right thing and dismiss the charges against those poor young boys

[kenammons]

gop_forever you put profit over national security and the well fair of your fellow decent americans.

[dlee8028]

I don''t care who or what you are murder is murder. No one has the right to take someone else''s life just because they don''t like how they look. If that were the case then I know a lot of people that should die just for being unattractive. But, that doesn''t give me the right to take their lives. Illegal or not, to be killed just because of the color of your skin takes the whole U.S. back 40 years.

[kenammons]

six-seis-six more likily a full complete pardon and save decent taxpayers money for an unneeded biased trial. also spare the town and those poor boys any further mental anguish. why ruin the lives of 4 fine young boys

[walkshe]

It''s a sad day when we (American''s) condone outright murder for any reason. Killing is no way to control the illegal immigrant population, and we don''t need the 10 Commandements to tell us murder is wrong. If these boys are found guilty, they should stand up and take their punishments.

[DaveGress]

kenammons - why write such idiotic words? Are you just stupid or trying to be funny? Murder is not a joking matter.

[thcarson-2009]

get on with the trials, death penalty to those little white Terrorists.!!!


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Posted by six-seis-six

I think we should give them medals.

[hasher477]

Serve us well if after all this, the Mexicans built a huge fence on the border and refused to cross it, EVER!!!

Posted by DaVicar2 at 02:10 PM : Aug 18, 2008

We can only "HOPE" for that kind of "CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN".

[kenammons]

dice8028 skin color is not issue here illegals coming in and causing trouble in a community and expect likily provoking and starting the trouble is. all legal americans should be the same under the law

[thcarson-2009]

Maybe if they protested as loudly in Mexico that country wouldn''t be so jacked up and then they wouldn''t have to come over here.

[teeus]

"...spare ... those poor boys any further mental anguish. why ruin the lives of 4 fine young boys..."
Posted by kenammons

Oh, yes. Fine, fine boys. As long as killing people is one of the skill sets you look for in "fine boys."

[shingles1]

These protesters are kind of like the Code Pink of the immigrant rights movement.

And I don''t mean that as a compliment.

[kenammons]

degress12 putting down a no good illegal invader should get those boys a medal he already had violated multiple laws and i bet started the trouble then.

[hasher477]

Killing is no way to control the illegal immigrant population, and we don''''t need the 10 Commandements to tell us murder is wrong.

Posted by walkshe at 02:43 PM : Aug 18, 2008

Really?? This ought to be good. Please, enlighten all of us as to YOUR reasoning on why murder is wrong.

I''ll bet your reasoning is more amusing....

[gop_forever]

gop_forever you put profit over national security and the well fair of your fellow decent americans. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted by kenammons
===================================
Absolutely! Just like the other rich people. If we didnt hire them, then they would never come around here. Do you want my children to obtain a complex because mommy had to drop them off at school in last years model Escalade?

[jumkey]

Who will work this mans machine? Will the company that employs this illegal alien be compensated for his lost productivity?

Posted by GOP_forever

Excellent. You rock.

[DaveGress]

kenammons - so you are simply stupid. Perhaps you''ll stand trial for murder one day. You seem so cavalier about the whole thing. I''ll bet that''ll pucker your bung-hole.

[kenammons]

teeus not people an illegal foreign invader that had no right to be in this great country he was the criminal

[underdogus34]

HAVE NO FEAR UNDERDOG IS HERE!!

[hasher477]

MS13 and the Mexican Mafia are VERY good reasons why murdering illegals is a GOOD idea!

These boys should not only get a medal...they should be MADE for life from the US gov''t, and the money should come out of some liberal scum welfare program.

[underdogus34]

kenammons stfUP friggin pedophile!! shessh

[displeased]

Let those boys go. At least they will probably make something of themselves instead of being a worm like that Mexican.
Posted by ban-one1

Anybody that has the initiative to beat somebody to death will certainly grow up to be a fine specimen. So you really think they should let these boys go? Gang beating another person to death is acceptable to you?

[barbaraf4]

"We don''t need the 10 Commandements to tell us murder is wrong." Posted by walkshe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bible offers no punishment nor consequence for any of the Ten Commandments.

[teeus]

"...If the idiot hadnt been here illegally and wasnt mooching off the system with his 3 illegitamate children hed still be alive today. Let those boys go. At least they will probably make something of themselves instead of being a worm like that Mexican..."
Posted by ban-one1

*Gasp!!* OMG! A PSYCHIC!! How else to explain facts presented in the post that are no where in the article?

3 illegitimate children? Mooching off the system? How do you know these things? I mean BESIDES you racist phobias and wishfull thinking? He was more likely working in some fast food outlet--doing scut work those "fine boys" were too good to take.

And the "fine boys" have made something of themselves. Felons!

[myopinion381]

"Courthouse protests have caused a brief interruption in the preliminary hearing of three teenagers charged in the beating death of a Mexican immigrant in a small Pennsylvania town."

The way I read the above (first paragraph of the article) it says that he was an immigrant. Isn''t it a possibility that he came her legally? Even if he didn''t, it doesn''t give those boys the right to kill him. They should be punished in some way.

[kenammons]

degress12 lol i am by know means stupid i do realize that the illegal invasion of my country by foreigners is the greatest threat to national security this generation will face. i do think a 30 days to get out order should be given then it should be open season on illegals men,women, and children

[hasher477]

YES! They can call themselves MS14 or KK13 or just KKK...

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 02:53 PM : Aug 18, 2008

No, they can call themselves Americans!

[raksr1]

So where in the article does it say illegal immigrant? I only found the word immigrant...not illegal.

[teeus]

"...an illegal foreign invader that had no right to be in this great country he was the criminal..."
Posted by kenammons

What a moron.

So, its OK to kill criminals? Really? I missed that part of the justice code. Is that all criminals, or just the foreign ones? Is it all the foreign ones, or just the Mexicans?

I just want to be sure of the details before I start blowing away my neighbors when they dont turn down the stereo, or the jaywalkers who make me apply my brakes.

[kenammons]

underdogus34 grow up and learn how to argue what you think like a grown up, no body is interested or cares about your weird preferences especially not me

[brianp55]

This type of retaliatory act should surprise no one. We saw the same thing after 911, whe a Seikh gas station owner was killed in Arizona and during the 70s when an occasional Asian citizen was targeted due to frustration with the influx of Japanese goods, accompanied with US layoffs. Nonetheless, such events are very rare in the US, which has a demonstrated tolerance for immigrants.

[hasher477]

So where in the article does it say illegal immigrant? I only found the word immigrant...not illegal.

Posted by raksr1 at 02:56 PM : Aug 18, 2008

It''s CBS libby news land. All immigrants are legal here!

[raksr1]

why does everyone here who are against these boys think that they killed him SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WAS ILLEGAL?? Maybe the kids didn''''t even know he was illegal. You bunch of panty waisted liberal ***#


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Posted by ban-one1 at 02:56 PM : Aug 18, 2008

ban-one1 - so it''s ok to KILL someone because you don''t like the way they look? Or maybe because of their height? Or because they drive a Ford instead of a Chevy? You are a MORON

[kenammons]

teeus it should be illegal to kill foreign invaders but that would currently require a change of law or legal interpritation. i don not believe loud music is a reason to us lethal force in any state

[credibility2]

How come this type of media coverage, outrage and protest rarely occurs when criminal illegals go out and commit murder? Criminal illegals committing crimes is more widespread than this. It''s now considered PC to refer to criminal illegals as immigrants, which is a slap in the face of all those immigrants who came here legally and received documentation. I haven''t any pity of sympathy for what happens to illegals.

[kenammons]

gop_forever i hope for you with the current state of our economy that whether your mrs drives a new or 1 year old escalade is your biggest problem. if so you have been very blessed, but many of your fellow decent americans are hanging on by a thread,and a great nation cares about even the least of its citizens

[bob5ford]

"(AP) Three white teens were charged Friday in what officials said was an epithet-filled fatal beating of an illegal Mexican immigrant in a small northeast Pennsylvania coal town." This is from a prior CBS article. It is legal, in most states, to use a reasonable amount of force, including deadly force, to stop the commission of a crime. The only question would appear to be was the use of deadly as opposed to non-lethal force justified.

[displeased]

They should be forced to live in a Country that does not allow for immigration at all! A Country that suffers from a lack of cultural diversity to the point that everyone has to work, and live together just like their neighbors. A Country that nobody would like to illegally break into regardless of their financial situation, or language barriers, or fences.
Posted by DaVicar2

Sort of sounds like prison.

[kenammons]

a nationwide open season on illegal foreign invaders would be a great thing for the next president to get passed into law. drive the invaders all the way to guatemala and belieze then mine 10 miles thick a much shorter border. patrol the air with drones, and give poor unfortunate decent americans free land in the new territory we got. what an economic stimulas plan

[zorar-2009]

A news article like this:& the blogger racists,white supremacists & r-e-d-n-e-c-k-s can''t wait to come out of the woodwork to post their ignorant rants!

[gangesdak]

The "nice" teenagers who killed an illegal immigrant today, if not put away in jail, would kill others tomorrow. A killer must be punished. We will tackle illegal immigrant issue in other ways.

[zorar-2009]

You guys deserve McCain!

[kenammons]

bob5ford in a case like this you would really want to give 4 decent young boys the benefit of the doubt. i mean the dead guy clearly had already shown no regard for the laws of this country, and there have been no reports of those poor boys ever being in trouble before

[bob5ford]

I can not help but think that if I, as a white male, were to loudly protest the trial of a minority for killing anyone, I would be jailed in a moment for contempt or disturbing the peace. Why is there a double standard that allows these people to protest and not me?