The early testimony of witnesses is always important to remember.Here is a video of Arielle Garcia's eye witness testimony. She spoke to CNN in July, 2008, just days after the murder. Arielle Garcia talks about the crime. From the video you can see how close Eileen Burke's front porch was from where the crime occurred.
Arielle said Ramirez was walking away. The jocks were still screaming racial slurs. Luis gets into a fight with one. Then the others jump in and the fight moves into the street. He is sucker punched and is laying unconscious on the ground when he is murdered with the final kick to the head.
The same video continues. Immediately following Arielle's video is an interview with Walsh's Father talking about the crime. He said it is a bad nightmare for all the families. He just didn't expect this from his son or the other jocks.
The same video continues. Immediately following Arielle's video is an interview with Walsh's Father talking about the crime. He said it is a bad nightmare for all the families. He just didn't expect this from his son or the other jocks.
Then Crystal Dillman, Luis' fiancee talks. She accurately predicted Shenandoah would try to justify the murder. She accurately predicted the town would demonize Luis. She clearly understands the town and predicted well. She said the town wants these jocks to look perfect. However, Luis Ramirez was a good man. Luis won't receive justice. They will make the kids look like Angels and make Luis look like a demon. No justice for Luis.
The next video shows a CNN reporter saying it took 2 weeks for the perpetrators to be charged. Mistreatment by police. Lack of sympathy for Luis Ramirez on behalf of the community.
From the CNN article dated 7/31/08:
SHENANDOAH, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- By the time help arrived, Luis Ramirez lay convulsing in the middle of the street, foam running from his mouth. Crystal Dillman displays the religious medal worn by her fiance, Luis Ramirez, who died from a beating. Blows had struck the 25-year-old illegal Mexican immigrant with such force that they left a clotted, bruised impression of Jesus Christ on the skin of his chest from the religious medal he wore. His attackers were white teenagers, including star students and football players, witnesses told police.
After a night of drinking, the teens taunted the undocumented worker with racial epithets, pummeled him to the ground and then kicked him in the head...
After a night of drinking, the teens taunted the undocumented worker with racial epithets, pummeled him to the ground and then kicked him in the head...
By this time, Eileen Burke, a retired Philadelphia police officer, had stepped out of her home after hearing Arielle Garcia's pleas to stop the beating. Burke recalled hearing one final, ominous threat as the teens ran. "They (Piekarsky & Donchak) yelled, 'You effin bitch, tell your effin Mexican friends to get the eff out of Shenandoah or you're gonna be laying effin next to him,' " she said.
Even in July, 2008, the Lawyers planned their defense - the demonization of Luis Ramirez:
Fanelli said he plans to investigate whether Ramirez has a criminal background. He also questions why the engaged father of three was walking on the street with the girl, and the nature of their relationship. Ramirez's fiancee says he was walking her younger sister home.
A lawyer for Walsh said he is equally skeptical about the ethnic intimidation charge. "They called each other names. The victim was calling them obscenities, vulgar names, and they said things back to him that would hurt him," Roger Laguna said. "It just means it was a foul-mouthed argument, not ethnic intimidation."
A lawyer for Walsh said he is equally skeptical about the ethnic intimidation charge. "They called each other names. The victim was calling them obscenities, vulgar names, and they said things back to him that would hurt him," Roger Laguna said. "It just means it was a foul-mouthed argument, not ethnic intimidation."
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