Thread: 2 illegal immigrants face trial in homicide

http://www.pennlive.com

HAZLETON
2 illegal immigrants face trial in homicide
Friday, August 04, 2006
BY BILL SAVITSKY JR.
For The Patriot-News
HAZLETON - Two men accused in the shooting death that prompted Hazleton's controversial illegal immigrant ordinance will be tried on homicide charges.

District Judge Joseph Zola on Wednesday ordered Pedro Cabrera and Joan Romero, both 23 and illegal immigrants, to be tried on criminal homicide and related charges.

Mayor Lou Bartletta said yesterday that the apparently unprovoked May 10 killing of Derek Kichline, 29, in front of Kichline's East Chestnut Street home "made me realize we had to do something" to combat illegal immigrants who the mayor said have put residents in fear and overwhelmed police and other resources.

The law that establishes English as Hazleton's official language, requires landlords to verify tenants' immigration status and suspends licenses of businesses that employ illegal immigrants is one of the strictest such ordinances in the country and is being copied by other municipalities.

Kichline's girlfriend, Tammy Gombert, testified she watched from Kichline's porch as he was killed when he went to his pickup truck at 11:40 p.m. to retrieve some compact discs.

Gombert testified at Wednesday's preliminary hearing that Cabrera and Romero walked up behind Kichline and one of them shot him in the back of the head without saying a word, then calmly walked away. Gombert said she had never seen the defendants before and believes Kichline did not know them. No motive for the killing has been established.

Cabrera and Romero are in prison without bail on the homicide charges and on a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.

sounds like they are biting the hand that feeds them....