3 plead guilty in fatal Philly ballpark beating

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Three men accused in a fatal beating outside a Philadelphia Phillies game have pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Francis Kirchner, Charles Bowers and James Groves face up to 40 years in prison for their roles in the drunken melee in July 2009.

Prosecutors say the fight between two groups of fans started over a spilled beer. Twenty-two-year-old David Sale Jr. of Lansdale was killed.

The surprise pleas came during a court hearing Tuesday that was supposed to determine if the defendants would be retried. Attorneys could not explain the turn of events because of a gag order.

A judge had declared a mistrial in September after a prosecution witness identified Kirchner as the person who fatally kicked Sale.

Defense lawyers say they weren't told the witness could identify Kirchner.