Santa Ana , California ( CNN ) -- A surveillance video played a key role as closing arguments got underway Tuesday in the trial of two former Fullerton , California , police officers accused in the beating death of a mentally ill homeless man . Kelly Thomas was severely beaten by deputies the night of July 5 , 2011 . He later died in a hospital . The surveillance camera footage shows Thomas being beaten , clubbed , and stunned with a Taser by police . The case drew national headlines . During closing arguments , District Attorney Tony Rackaukas told jurors that the confrontation was started by former police officer Manuel Ramos . On the video Ramos can be heard telling Thomas , `` These fists , they are going to f*** you up . '' Rackauckas told the jury that Kelly Thomas was simply trying to protect himself from an unprovoked beating . Rackauckas told the jury , `` Kelly Thomas pleaded -- pleaded -- that he could not breathe . Apologized . But the use of force continued . '' But an attorney for one of the police officers painted a very different picture of that night . John Barnett told jurors the case was `` not about a about a homeless , helpless , harmless Kelly Thomas . '' Barnett painted a picture of Thomas as a mentally ill methamphetamine addict with a violent past . Barnett argued that Thomas was uncooperative with officers who were responding to a complaint that a homeless man was attempting to break into parked cars . The prosecution and the defense even disagree about the cause of Kelly Thomas 's death . The coroner ruled that Thomas died from respiratory failure as a result of the beating . Defense experts have testified that Thomas 's death was due to heart abnormalities caused by long-term drug use . Barnett told jurors , `` There is a controversy among the leading minds in the field . '' Former officer Ramos is charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter . He faces a possible sentence of 15 years to life in prison if convicted . He is the first police officer charged with murder in an on-duty incident in Orange County history . A second former officer , Jay Cincinelli , is charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force in the case . Both were fired from the Fullerton police department following the beating incident .
Kelly Thomas , 37 , died after being beaten by Fullerton Police Department officers . Two former officers are on trial in his death . Manuel Ramos is charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter . Jay Cicinelli is charged with involuntary manslaughter and use of excessive force .