BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The trial of 14 hooligans charged with fatally beating a French football fan before a Europa League match last September started Wednesday with one defendant expressing sympathy over the death.

Ljubomir Markovic, 29, said he was sorry about the loss of life but pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder at Belgrade’s High Court.

All 14 defendants are facing the same charge after 28-year-old Brice Taton was attacked in a downtown cafe in the Serbian capital before Partizan Belgrade’s match against Toulouse on Sept. 17. Taton died several days later in a hospital. (more…)