David Christian, 29, of Iowa City makes his initial appearance by video from the Johnson County Jail on charges of second degree murder and public intoxication Monday, Oct. 20, 2008 in Iowa City. Christian was charged with murder after a fight early on Sunday over a chess game resulted in the death of Michael Steward, 39, of Iowa City. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)
Guilty plea entered in chess-game death
Associated Press - September 25, 2009 2:54 PM ET
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa City man has pleaded guilty in the death of his opponent in a chess game.
David Christian was originally charged with second-degree murder. However, on Friday the 30-year-old pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Johnson County District Court.
Assistant Johnson County Attorney David Tiffany said the plea deal was influenced by the victim's family, who wanted Christian to receive help for his psychological problems.
Police say Christian and Michael Alan Steward were playing chess and drinking at Christian's residence on Oct. 19, 2008, when a quarrel turned violent. They say Christian apparently trapped Steward's neck between his legs and squeezed until Steward was dead.
Although a sentencing date hasn't been determined, the plea agreement includes a recommendation for the mandatory 10-year sentence.
Information from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, http://www.press-citizen.com/
Interesting
Stay Cool, Players!
On the Jail some Internet Connections problems can distract you from Chess Activities... And some other Problems may occur, too...
Must have been a good game, I wonder if the scoresheet is available? Maybe something like this: 1) e4 e5 2) Nf3 Nc6 ..... .... 31) Qxf7+ Kh8 32) Re7 0-1
Black wins by death.
Chess is a game of war after all, isn't it ! hence, true to the spirit
1.h2-h4...
0-1
Judge: "Anything else to say in your defence?"
Defendant: "...er.. Yes Sir, I'm never playing chess with him again."
Judge-" You will never play him again!
10 years! have a nice Time!"
Be sure to make it both, altogether! Before calling to Police Station...From: AWARDCHESS
To: X.
Date: Sep 27, 2009
Subject: Re: chessy murder
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Original Message by X.
I am not sure if i am supposed to laugh or be disgusted.
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Original Message by 
AWARDCHESS on
And on Texas you cannot make a Graffiti on the Neighbor's Cow!? But shooting a noisy stinky Neighbor on your Back yard is a Different Story...
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Original Message by X.
Ok so throughout different sttes the law is different like Oregon won't let you pump your own gas.
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Original Message by AWARDCHESS on 9/27/2009 @ 9:24am:
USA has a 50 States, and The Law may be very complicated and Different!
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Original Message by X.
Yes it is but that man did a very stupid thing he should not have killed anyone!He should go to jail. I thought that the punishment for murder was death though?
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Original Message by AWARDCHESS
Loosing a Temper is always Horrible!
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Original Message by X.
I read this and that is horrible.
that's very bad and also people be careful on who you meet here on chess.com don't give them any personal info or anything else if you meet them face to face then you can
agree
I got some Personal Messages on my my Private gmail from girls from Nigeria!
I can share them and their emails with you to Spam back!
Wow horrible
Chess is not dangerous as a so called "Players"!
Russian Czar Ivan Terrible killed his own Son by stick, during a Chess game... History!
The chess is dangerous!!!
Chess Murdery? Man is Guilty!
IC Man Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge in Chess Game Killing
By Gregg Hennigan
Story Created: Sep 25, 2009 at 1:12 PM CDT
Story Updated: Sep 25, 2009 at 1:12 PM CDT
David Christian faces 10 years in prison. He also must pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of the victim, Michael Steward, as part of a plea agreement. A date for his sentencing has not been set.
Christian was originally charged with second-degree murder, which carried a possible 50-year prison sentence.
Following a hearing in Johnson County District Court, prosecutor David Tiffany said the plea agreement resulted primarily from the wishes of the victim’s family, who he said wanted Christian to serve time and also get help for any psychological needs he may have.
Authorities say Steward, 39, slapped Christian, 30, during a chess game last October in their apartment building at 418 Brown St. Christian then held Steward’s hands together, put Steward’s neck between his legs, and applied pressure on Steward’s neck off and on until the victim was unresponsive.
Christian told police he attempted to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Steward and then sought help from another neighbor, who called police. Christian also was charged with public intoxication in connection with the incident.
Christian, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, admitted in court today that he caused Steward’s death. He only spoke when asked questions by Judge Fae Hoover-Grinde.
At the end of the 25-minute hearing, Christian walked past his family, nodded, and briefly said something in a voice that was inaudible from a few feet away.
Christian’s family declined to talk to news media. Steward’s family, through the court’s victim-