Trial for 3 ex-cops opens in Pa. immigrant death

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — A prosecutor says three police officers in a Pennsylvania town obstructed a federal investigation into the beating of an illegal immigrant to protect the white football players accused in the case.

Opening statements began Thursday in the trial of three former Shenandoah police officers who allegedly orchestrated a cover-up in the death of Mexican immigrant Luis Ramirez.

Ramirez died following the July 2008 altercation.

Federal prosecutors say former police Chief Matthew Nestor and two subordinates obstructed the investigation by tampering with evidence and witnesses or lying to the FBI. They have pleaded not guilty.

Federal prosecutor Myesha Braden said in her opening statement that the officers knew the families of the accused teens.

Two men who took part in the assault were convicted in October of a federal hate crime.