Man charged immediately after dying of lover at Patriots video game suggests “Of program I am harmless”

WRENTHAM – John Vieira, one of the two males criminally charged after the loss of life of New England Patriots enthusiast Dale Mooney at Gillette Stadium very last tumble, stated he was innocent soon after his 1st court physical appearance in the case Friday.

Vieira, 59, of Warwick, Rhode Island, was arraigned in a quick hearing at Wrentham District Courtroom. He pleaded not responsible to rates of assault and battery and disorderly carry out linked to the fight in the stands on September 17, 2023. 

Vieira did not have an attorney and questioned for a public defender to depict him. He was launched on a assure to return to courtroom on February 26 for a pre-demo hearing and was requested to remain away from Gillette Stadium and Mooney’s family.

Vieira wouldn’t chat to reporters exterior court docket soon after the listening to, but did briefly answer to a single problem, expressing “Of study course I am innocent.”

Mooney, 53, died soon after collapsing through a brawl with a team of lovers in the stands for the duration of a activity involving the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Vieira and 39-year-previous Justin Mitchell of Warwick had been charged in December right after a extended investigation into the brawl. Mitchell will be arraigned on the identical fees on January 26.

The medical examiner dominated Mooney’s loss of life was a murder, but that he experienced coronary heart disease and died when the battle sent his coronary heart into an abnormal rhythm. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office mentioned there wasn’t more than enough evidence to demand Vieira and Mitchell with creating Mooney’s dying.

Courtroom paperwork released Friday reveals there were being two fights that night time, in which police wrote that Mooney was a prepared participant, even indicating he initiated a combat at a person level. But then police targeted on Vieira indicating, “During the struggle, Mr. Viera punches Mr. Mooney in the space of the head one time. This appears to be like to be the glancing blow.”