3 men beaten by Philly cops acquitted on charges

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Three men beaten by Philadelphia police after a triple shooting have been acquitted of all charges in the shootings.

The defendants’ relatives wept and slumped in their seats as the city jury read the verdicts today.

Defense lawyers say police thought the men’s car contained a fugitive sought in a police sergeant’s slaying two days earlier. Four officers were fired and eight disciplined afterward.

The verdict in the weeklong trial comes after the jury watched the 10-minute tape of police beating and kicking Pete Hopkins Jr., Brian Hall and Dwayne Dyches on May 5, 2008.