Three men plead guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy charges …
Funeral services are set for Saturday afternoon for David Sale.
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Could the beating death outside Citizens Bank Park have been …
Philadelphia police describe how a spilled drink allegedly led …
Police say two men are in custody and a third is expected to be…
Mistrial In Phillies Fan Beating Case
Updated: Tuesday, 20 Sep 2011, 11:44 AM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 20 Sep 2011, 11:18 AM EDT
PHILADELPHIA - A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a man killed outside a Phillies game in July 2009.
Judge Shelley Robins New declared the mistrial on Tuesday morning after a problem arose with how testimony was conducted in the case.
Defense lawyers for three men asked for the mistrial on Monday after a prosecution witness identified one defendant without the prior knowledge of the defense.
A new trial date will be set on Wednesday, according to court records.
Prosecutors said in opening statements two groups sparred several times before the July 2009 melee that left 22-year-old David Sale Jr. of Lansdale dead.
Three Philadelphia men are facing murder charges over the attack in a parking lot near Citizens Bank Park.
The defendants had gone to the game on a trip sponsored by a city tavern. The feud between the groups allegedly started over a spilled beer.
Thirty-year-old Francis Kirchner is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly delivering the fatal blow.
Thirty-seven-year-old Charles Bowers and 48-year-old Jim Groves are charged with third-degree murder.
Defense lawyers have argued that it will be hard to prove who did what during the fight.