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.
