Trial begins for 3 in fatal ballpark lot beating

Philly’s bad fan reputation comes from somewhere:

Three men charged with murder in the fatal beating of another man outside a Phillies game say they landed only two punches between them, neither of which was the fatal blow.

The trial for 30-year-old Francis Kirchner, 37-year-old Charles Bowers and 48-year-old Jim Groves began yesterday. They’re charged with killing a Lansdale man outside Citizens Bank Park in a drunken July 2009 melee.

Kirchner is charged with first-degree murder and his two co-defendants are charged with third-degree murder. Kirchner’s attorney says his client never struck David Sale Jr. and will testify in his own defense.

Bowers’ attorney says his client didn’t hit Sale either but Groves’ attorney says his client did punch the victim twice, but backed off.

Prosecutors say Kirchner struck the fatal blow, a kick to Sale’s head.