Daley's nephew indicted in brawl death

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CHICAGO, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A nephew of former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has been indicted in the death of a man killed in a brawl outside a bar, a special prosecutor said Monday.

A special Cook County grand jury indicted Richard J. Vanecko on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the 2004 death of David Koschman, 21, of Mount Prospect.

The panel alleges Vanecko "recklessly performed acts which were likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another," the Chicago Tribune reported.

Koschman was out drinking with friends April 25, 2004, when they got into a dispute with a group that included Vanecko. Koschman wound up hitting the back of his head when he was knocked to the street and died 11 days later.

Vanecko is 6-foot-3 and weighs 230 pounds, while Koschman was 5-foot-5 and 125 pounds.

The Tribune said Vanecko's attorneys issued a statement expressing disappointment an indictment was handed up, noting while Koschman was not driving, he had a blood-alcohol content nearly three times the 0.08 legal limit for motorists.

Koschman "was clearly acting in an unprovoked, physically aggressive manner," Vanecko's attorneys said. "We are confident that when all the facts are aired in a court of law, the trier of fact will find Mr. Vanecko not guilty."

Vanecko, who now lives in California, faces anywhere from probation to five years in prison if convicted.