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DETROIT -- A recreational soccer player who delivered one punch to a referee that killed the man pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Friday in a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to serve up to 15 years in prison. Bassel Saad, 36, acknowledged in a Detroit courtroom that he struck John Bieniewicz during a game last summer at a Livonia park. Bieniewicz died two days later. Saad initially was charged with second-degree murder and had been scheduled to stand trial beginning Monday. The auto mechanic will be sentenced March 13. Under the plea deal, he could be sentenced from eight to 15 years in prison. He would have faced up to life in prison if convicted as charged. Because Saad is not a U.S. citizen, he also could be deported. Defense lawyer Cyril Hall who added his client is "very, very remorseful." Bieniewicz, 44, left behind a wife and two sons. Kris Bieniewicz, the referee's wife, attended Friday's hearing, but did not speak to reporters afterward. She told The Associated Press earlier this week that she hoped Saad "never sees the light of day."
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