According to the associated press (h/t espn), one of the men charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct in september related to the death of a new england patriots fan at gillette stadium has pleaded not guilty.
John vieira, 59, of rhode island, entered the plea in wrentham district court on friday to answer charges that he and another rhode island man, 39-year-old justin mitchell, assaulted 53-year-old dale mooney during an altercation at the sept. 17 matchup between the patriots and dolphins, a 24-year season ticket holder.
Mooney, a lifelong patriots fan and 30-year season ticket holder, collapsed when a fight He was admitted to a local hospital and died. Before the fight broke out, mooney was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with mitchell, who was wearing a dolphins jersey.
Mooney approached mitchell “as if to tell him (mooney) wants him to accompany him,” according to a police report published by boston globe. following a review of evidence and autopsy findings, norfolk district attorney michael morrissey said there was no reason to suspect vieira and mitchell of causing mooney’s death. Mitchell is set to appear on the same charges as vieira on jan. 26.
