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Medical examiner: Hockey beating death victim suffered 'lot of trauma'

Thomas Junta's attorney says he acted in self-defense.

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- A father supervising a hockey practice was beaten so severely that he suffered deep hemorrhages on the left side of his neck and had a form of stroke, a medical examiner testified Friday in the trial of the man accused in the father's death.

Dr. Stanton Kessler testified at the manslaughter trial of Thomas Junta, another hockey father accused of beating Michael Costin to death. Both men's sons played in the practice.

The prosecution said Junta, 43, beat Costin, 40, threw him down, sat on him and banged his head on the floor in a fist fight at a Reading, Massachusetts hockey rink on July 5, 2000. Costin was supervising the boys' practice and acting as goalie when Junta protested the violent play in the hockey practice involving their sons.

Junta could be sentenced to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Kessler showed graphic autopsy pictures as he described Costin's extensive injuries, including bruises on both sides of his face, a bloody nose and deep bruising and swelling around his left ear, neck, shoulder and mid-back.

In addition, Kessler said, "the ligaments attaching the skull to the neck have been stretched, torn and they have hemorrhaged. We're talking about a lot of trauma here."

LEGAL RESOURCES Latest Legal News Law Library FindLaw Consumer Center Select a topic Bankruptcy Discrimination Divorce Estate Planning Landlord-Tenant Personal Injury Taxes   VIDEO The prosecution claims Thomas Junta beat Michael Costin to death, while the defense says Junta acted in self-defense. CNN's Bill Delaney reports (January 4) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Kessler said Costin's "brain was shaken so badly" that small blood vessels ruptured, resulting in extensive bleeding in the brain and spinal column. Kessler concluded this "blunt force trauma" caused Costin's death.

"The artery would go into immediate spasm, diminishing the blood supply by one-fourth, immediately, and in a few seconds he would be in a coma, if not dead," Kessler said.

Earlier, David Gentile, the first paramedic to arrive at the ice rink, told the jury that Costin had no pulse and was not breathing when he reached him. Costin's pulse came and went as they took him to the hospital but he was never able to breath on his own, Gentile testified. Costin died the next day.

Claim: Self defense

An employee of Burbank Ice Rink, where the fight occurred, said she witnessed the initial scuffle between Costin and Junta just outside the locker rooms.

"They were pushing back and forth at each other," Nancy Blanchard told the court. "Mr. Costin's back was against the wall in the alcove between the locker rooms. Mr. Junta was facing him. Mr. Costin was down, almost like sliding down against the wall. He was almost sitting on floor. They were holding on to each other."

Blanchard said she did not see any "actual punches being thrown." Costin, who was wearing ice skates, was flailing his legs, trying to regain his balance, she testified.

Defense attorney Thomas Orlandi Jr. said his client, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound truck driver, was trying to defend himself.

Orlandi said Costin, a 6-foot, 156-pound single father clad in protective hockey gear, launched a "physical attack" against Junta when Junta came down to the ice to complain about rough play. Costin began choking Junta with his own necklace and kicking his shins and sneaker-clad feet with the 3-inch blades of his ice skates, Orlandi said.

The two were separated and Junta was told to leave, but he came back and was immediately attacked again by Costin, Orlandi said.

Junta responded by hitting Costin three or four times, stopping as soon as Costin stopped punching him, Orlandi said.

Prosecutors are expected to produce a witness to refute the argument.

Junta, his son and one of the victim's sons are expected to testify in the trial, which will resume Monday. The judge said the trial will likely wrap up by the end of next week.