Acquittal in Philly fight that cost man his eye

[March 14, 2013]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A Philadelphia jury has acquitted a man of assault in a bar parking lot fight that cost another man his left eye.

The Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/10P7bhu) says the Common Pleas panel on Wednesday acquitted Matthew Brunelli of aggravated assault.

Prosecutors alleged Brunelli punched John Huttick in the eye with an object that may have been a key in the August 2011 fight in the parking lot of the New Princeton Tavern.

Defense attorney Eileen Hurley says her client used only his fist to punch Huttick, who was trying to intervene in a fight between Brunelli and another bar patron.

Earlier proceedings ended in a mistrial after Huttick's $3,000 prosthetic blue eye popped out as he was testifying, startling jurors. The judge called that an "unfortunate" incident and granted the defense's mistrial motion.

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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.philly.com/

[Associated Press]

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