Cambridge, Mass. — A father on trial for beating a man to death at a youth hockey practice was defending himself from a "sucker punch" thrown by the victim, a defense attorney told jurors Thursday.
But prosecutors said Thomas Junta, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound truck driver, lunged at the 160-pound victim, pinned him to the ground and repeatedly pounded his head to the floor until he lost consciousness.
Junta, 42, is charged with manslaughter in the death of Michael Costin, 40, who died after an argument over rough play at a skating rink in Reading, just north of Boston.
Eleven children, ages 11 to 15, who saw the fight on July 5, 2000, are on the prosecutor's list of potential witnesses, including the mens' sons.
Junta concedes he became incensed when he saw "hitting, fighting, slashing" during his 10-year-old son's stick practice, said defense attorney Thomas Orlandi Jr. Junta yelled for Costin, who was supervising on the ice, to control the game.
As the practice ended, Junta claims a player threw an elbow at his son's head. After Junta escorted his son to the locker room, Junta and Costin had two physical confrontations.
Costin walked past Junta after the practice and said something to him about hockey being rough. Junta swore at Costin, and a fight started.
The defense claims Costin, who stood 6-foot-3 in his hockey skates, thrust his chest into Junta and cut him on his face, neck and shins with his hockey skates. The fight was broken up and Junta left the rink, only to return a few minutes later.
Prosecutors contend Junta lunged at Costin, knelt over him and repeatedly punched him.
The defense says Costin blindsided Junta when he walked back into the rink. Another fight ensued and, the defense says, Costin hit his head.
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