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Expert: Hockey father beaten severely

Thomas Junta says he acted in self-defense.

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- A medical examiner testified Friday that a father supervising a youth hockey practice suffered deep hemorrhages on the left side of his neck and a torn artery to the brain after being beaten severely.

Dr. Stanton Kessler testified at the manslaughter trial of Thomas Junta, another hockey father accused of beating Michael Costin to death at a Reading, Massachusetts, ice rink on July 5, 2000. Junta could face 20 years in prison if convicted.

Displaying graphic autopsy pictures in a Massachusetts court on Friday, Kessler described bruises to both sides of Costin's face, a bloody nose and deep bruising and swelling around his left ear, neck, shoulder and mid-back.

"The ligaments attaching the skull to the neck have been stretched, torn and they have hemorrhaged," said Kessler. The victim's "brain was shaken so badly" that small blood vessels ruptured, causing extensive bleeding in the brain and spinal column, he said.

"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, testified that Costin had no pulse and was not breathing when he reached him. The victim's pulse came and went en route to the hospital, but he never breathed on his own before he was declared dead the following day.

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)

The prosecution claims that Junta, 43, beat Costin, 40 and more than 100 pounds lighter than the defendant. Junta threw him down, sat on him and banged his head on the ground after being angered about violent play in a hockey practice involving their sons, prosecutors say. Costin was supervising the boys' practice and acting as goalie.

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 eventually hit Costin three or four times, stopping as soon as Costin stopped punching him, Orlandi said.

Nancy Blanchard, an employee at Burbank Ice Rink, said she saw the initial scuffle before calling the police. The men were "holding on to each other" and Costin, who was wearing ice skates, had his back pinned against the wall and was "almost sitting on the floor," she testified.

While Blanchard said she did not see any "actual punches being thrown," she testified that his legs were flailing as he tried to regain his balance.

A prosecution witness will testify that she saw Junta hit Costin 10 to 20 times, prosecutor Sheila Calkins said. Junta, his son and one of the victim's sons are also expected to testify.

The trial will resume Monday morning and could end by the end of the week, according to the judge.