Prosecution rests in Pa. immigrant beating trial

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Federal prosecutors have rested their case against three former Pennsylvania police officers charged with orchestrating a cover-up of the beating death of an illegal immigrant.

Former Shenandoah police chief Matthew Nestor and two subordinates, William Moyer and Jason Hayes, are charged with obstructing an FBI investigation into the July 2008 attack on 25-year-old Luis Ramirez. Prosecutors allege that the officers helped a group of white high school football players concoct a cover story.

The defense began calling witnesses Friday afternoon after its motion for acquittal was denied, according to the Republican-Herald newspaper of Pottsville.

Two men were convicted of a federal hate crime for beating and kicking Ramirez. They were supposed to face sentencing on Monday, but a judge rescheduled it for Feb. 23.

___

Information from: Pottsville Republican and Herald, http://www.republicanherald.com