Two Rhode Island men charged with assault and disorderly conduct in connection with the death of a New England Patriots fan last September have pleaded not guilty in court.
John Vieira, 59, and Justin Mitchell, 39, both of Warwick, Rhode Island, appeared in Wrentham District Court recently. The first person pleaded not guilty on Jan. 19, according to the Associated Press, and the second pleaded not guilty Friday morning, CBS News reported.
Both men are accused of punching a New England fan during a brawl at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 17 when the Patriots hosted the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football. The victim, Dale Mooney, 53, of Newmarket, New Hampshire, was taken to a hospital for his injuries, but died.
Both have been ordered to stay away from Gillette Stadium and Mooney’s family. “Of course I’m innocent,” Vieira, who is due to appear in court on February 26, told reporters after the first hearing. A date for Mitchell’s return to court has not yet been announced.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Mooney’s death a homicide, noting that he was suffering from heart disease and an irregular heartbeat as a result of the fight. The cause of death was listed as “possible cardiac arrhythmia during a physical altercation in a person suffering from severe hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
