WESTBROOK – About 200 people turned out for the funeral of Eric Benson, the 24-year-old who, police said, died after being punched once in Monument Square last weekend.
Benson, 24, died last weekend after he fell to the ground and hit his head on the brick sidewalk after allegedly being punched early last Sunday. Portland police have charged Wllliam Googins, 20, with manslaughter. In court documents filed last week, police allege that Googins and two friends made sexual advances to a woman who was walking with Benson, then Googins punched Benson.
Saturday’s funeral was held in St. Hyacinth’s Church in the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua. Eric Benson’s twin brother, Andrew, said his brother loved cars, talking and debating his friends and family.
“Somehow, he was always right,” Andrew Benson said. “Before you knew it, you had just lost an argument with him.”
Googins was charged with manslaughter Wednesday and is being held on $100,000 bail. Prosecutors said they expect to take the case against him to a grand jury.
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