The man who allegedly fatally punched a coworker at a Portland job site in November 2020 entered a not guilty plea on Thursday.
A status conference date will be set for Robert Clarke of Braintree, Massachusetts, in approximately 60 days to address further court proceedings.
Clarke faces a charge of manslaughter in the Nov. 4 death of 44-year-old Elliott Fama, of Wilmington, Massachusetts.
Police say Clarke and Fama traveled to Portland together with two other coworkers for a job.
Clarke and Fama briefly exchanged pushes and punches allegedly after one refused to share a cigarette with the other.
Clarke allegedly punched Fama in the head, knocking him unconscious. He died in a hospital several days later.
The Portland Press Herald reports an attorney for the 35-year-old Clarke called the fight a tragedy.
