2 Men Make Pleas In Connection With Patriots Fan Death at Gillette Stadium

Trials are underway surrounding the death of a New England Patriots fan at September's home game against the Miami Dolphins.

Two Rhode Island men charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct in connection with the death of a New England Patriots fan in September have both pleaded not guilty in court.

John Vieira, 59, and Justin Mitchell, 39, both of Warwick, Rhode Island, appeared at Wrentham District Court over the past several days. The former pleaded not guilty on Jan. 19, per CBS News, while the latter did so on Friday morning, per the Associated Press.

Patriots fan Dale Mooney, who died after a fight at Gillette Stadium in September

Both men were arraigned over allegations that they punched a New England fan during a fight at Gillette Stadium on September 17, when the Patriots hosted the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football. The victim, 53-year-old Dale Mooney of Newmarket, New Hampshire, was taken to a hospital for his injuries, but was later pronounced dead.

Both men have been ordered to stay away from Gillette Stadium and Mooney's family. Vieira, who is scheduled to return to court on February 26, briefly told reporters "Of course I'm innocent" after his initial hearing. No date has been given yet for Mitchell's return to court.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Mooney's death as a homicide, but also noted that he had a heart disease and experienced an abnormal heart rate due to the fight. The cause of death was listed as "probable cardiac dysrhythmia in a person with severe hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease during a physical altercation."

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The Norfolk District Attorney's office said there was not enough evidence to charge Vieira and Mitchell for directly causing Mooney's death.

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