BREAKING NEWS-5PM TRIAL UPDATE

CLOSING STATEMENTS IN THE FEDERAL HATE CRIME TRIAL HAVE COMPLETED. THE PROCESS TOOK FOUR HOURS. FEDERAL JUDGE A. RICHARD CAPUTO IS EXPECTED TO CHARGE THE JURY TOMORROW MORNING AND THE JURY WILL BEGIN DELIBERATIONS. BRANDON PIEKARSKY AND DERRICK DONCHAK ARE CHARGED IN THE BEATING DEATH OF LUIS RAMIREZ IN JULY, 2008 IN SHENANDOAH. THE TRIAL IS BEING HELD IN SCRANTON, PA.




CLOSING STATEMENTS ARE TO BEGIN AT 1PM.



THE DEFENSE RESTED THIS MORNING AT 9:45AM. OFFICER ROBERT SENAPE, OF WEST MAHANOY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY WITNESS TO TESTIFY THIS MORNING. OFFICER SENAPE TESTIFIED THAT ARIELLE GARCIA NAMED BRIAN SCULLY AS THE KICKER, ON THE NIGHT OF THE BEATING. SENAPE'S STATEMENTS MATCHED THOSE IN THE REPORT GIVEN TO SHENANDOAH PD ON JULY 15, 2008. CLOSING STATEMENTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS MORNING AFTER 10:30AM. JUDGE CAPUTO WILL PROCEED WITH THE CHARGE, SO THE JURY CAN DELIBERATE.