PORTLAND – Two Portland police detectives accused of beating a handcuffed suspect after a high-speed chase will be forced to testify against each other at their trial, which got under way Monday.

Opening statements were presented Monday afternoon in the trial of Brian Regan and Patrick DeCourcey in Cumberland County Superior Court.

Justice Roland Cole ruled last month that the two defendants be tried together. The officers’ attorneys, who had sought separate trials, said the ruling would force Regan and DeCourcey to testify against each other.

The two eight-year veterans of the Portland Police Department are accused of beating Michael Esposito, who spent 21/2 days in the hospital with injuries to his face and eye after he was arrested by the officers Sept. 26.

DeCourcey and Regan, both 34, face misdemeanor assault charges that carry up to a year in jail; felony charges against them were dropped Monday.

Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson told jurors that Regan pounded Esposito, and that DeCourcey slammed him four or five times inside a police van.

Regan’s attorney said his client did strike Esposito, but only to defend himself from Esposito’s attempts to head-butt him. DeCourcey’s lawyer denied that DeCourcey beat Esposito.