Pocono News Section

Teens Charged in Beating Death Head to Court

Teens Charged in Beating Death Head to Court - Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 4:58PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Thursday, Nov 13, 2008 @ 04:58pm EST
POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY -- The attorneys for three Shenandoah teenagers charged in the summer beating death of an illegal immigrant want all charges -- ranging from ethnic intimidation to murder -- to be dropped.

The most serious charge against 16-year-old Brandon Piekarksy and 17-year-old Colin Walsh is murder, while 18-year-old Derrick Donchak is charged with aggravated assault in the July 12th beating death of 25-year-old Luis Ramirez.

Despite their ages, Piekarsky and Walsh are being charged as adults. The defense team says the prosecution hasn't provided enough evidence to charge those two with murder. While President Judge William Baldwin didn't make a decision at Thursday's hearing, he asked the prosecutors to provide more evidence for their murder case within ten days. But there's no word on how soon Judge Baldwin will make his decision after receiving that information.

If Judge Baldwin decides the charges will stand, the attorneys want three separate jury trials for Piekarsky, Walsh, and Donchak. A different judge previously bound all charges to trial at a preliminary hearing.

Piekarsky and Walsh were released from the Schuylkill County Prison in August. As a condition of their bail, both have a 7pm curfew, have to remain drug and alcohol free, and have to meet with probation officers.