Chess Community

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man pleaded guilty Friday morning to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his neighbor during a chess game.

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-witness coordinator, also declined to comment.