Utica, N.Y. – A former corrections officer testified Friday against three of his co-workers who are facing murder charges in the fatal beatings of an inmate last year.

Robert Kessler, who is headed to prison for his role in the beatings after taking a plea deal, described in detail how guards pepper sprayed and several times beat and punched Robert Brooks in prison until he wasn’t moving. Brooks was taken to a Utica hospital where he died later that night.

Kessler also testified about the attempted cover-up, describing how he was ordered to keep rewriting his report on what happened. He said the earlier versions were shredded.

Three officers - Mathew Galliher, Nicholas Kieffer and David Kingsley - are on trial in the Utica courtroom for the death of Brooks who was beaten by correctional

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