Ramos, Cicinelli ordered to stand trial in Thomas beating death

FULLERTON, Calif. (KABC) -- An Orange County Superior Court judge ordered two former Fullerton police officers to stand trial for the death of a mentally ill homeless man.

Manuel Ramos and Jay Cicinelli are accused of severely beating Kelly Thomas, resulting in Thomas' hospitalization and eventual death in July 2011. Ramos is charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Cicinelli is charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive force.

Attorneys filed a motion on behalf of the defendants to dismiss the charges.

Police were called to a Fullerton transit hub on July 5, 2011, by a report of a homeless man attempting to break into cars. Officers confronted Thomas, a homeless man with schizophrenia, who then attempted to flee and resisted arrest. The two defendants and a third officer, Joe Wolfe, allegedly held Thomas down and beat him with fists and a Taser gun.

Wolfe, who is no longer a Fullerton officer, has a pending hearing to dismiss manslaughter charges.

All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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