The trial in the criminal case of two former Fullerton police officers accused of beating homeless man Kelly Thomas to death two summers ago began Monday.
On July 5, 2011, Thomas was hospitalized after an altercation with six Fullerton police officers at a bus depot. Police were called to the location to investigate a report of a vehicle break-in.
Thomas was hospitalized and died five days later when he was removed from life support.
Former Fullerton Police Department Officer Manuel Ramos is facing one felony count of second degree murder and one felony count of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, Ramos faces up to 15 years in prison.
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Former Cpl. Jay Cicinelli is charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and one felony count of the use of excessive force.
Ron Thomas, Kelly’s father, was at the bus depot Sunday where his son was beaten to death. He said a candlelight vigil was being prepared ahead of the trial.
Ron said he hopes the jury will understand that his son is schizophrenic and not violent.
“This is our day,” he said. “It's finally here.”
Ramos’ lawyer John Barnett spoke with NBC4 by phone, saying his client was doing his job. Barnett said he believes the video will help his defense.
“We're going to put the video in context of the entire evening, and two decades that preceded it,” Barnett said. “I think when we do that the video will show no crimes were committed by police officers that night.”
The defense argues that Thomas ignored officer orders and fought with them.
“This use of violence is something that happened many times in Kelly Thomas’ past,” Barnett said.
A 13-page, 60-item questionnaire helped to narrow down a prospective jury pool from 2,000 to 117 in November.
Ron said he was told that the trial may run into January.
“For me, it's like opening wounds that never closed to begin with,” he said.
A hearing for a third officer, Joseph Wolfe, is slated for late January.
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