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CNN Live At Daybreak

Junta Jury to Continue Deliberations

Aired January 11, 2002 - 06:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Okay, now to the trial of the hockey dad accused of beating another father to death at their sons' practice. This morning jurors will resume deliberations at a Massachusetts courthouse. CNN's Bill Delaney reports on yesterday's closing arguments and some riveting testimony.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL DELANEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ways to see what Thomas Junta did, the defense, only a few off-balance punches thrown.

THOMAS ORLANDI, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Three to four punches under five seconds. I ask you ladies and gentlemen of the jury to look at the man who testified on that stand. I call him a "gentle giant".

DELANEY: A big man who used minimal force in self defense, never meaning to kill Michael Costin following a dispute over a children's hockey game or did maximum force kill Michael Costin -- the prosecution.

SHEILA CALKINS, PROSECUTOR: Gentle giant? He was on top of him, straddling him. He was over Michael Costin and he was pounding Michael Costin on the left side of his head. If Thomas Junta was hitting Michael Costin with the off-balance punches, would he have caused the damage that Stan Kessler, Dr. Stanton Kessler testified to you about. I suggest not. It just doesn't make sense.

DELANEY: Massachusetts Medical Examiner Dr. Stanton Kessler testifying earlier in the week to 15 areas of trauma on Michael Costin's body including tearing of powerful ligaments in his neck, nearly severing his head. The defense responded, though, Costin started the deadly brawl.

ORLANDI: I submit that any reasonable person would have the right to fight off this attack. It was simply a fight. Please don't let this tragedy impact on the facts of this case. Everyone loses in this tragedy, but you've got to look at the facts. It was simply a fight.

DELANEY: A jury now facing the not so simple business of deciding whether Thomas Junta committed manslaughter, which could mean 20 years in jail.

(on camera): Many in and around Middlesex Superior Court here in Cambridge, Massachusetts predict the jury will find involuntary manslaughter, meaning Junta intended to commit battery, but not to kill Michael Costin. The recommended sentence for that in Massachusetts, three to five years.

Bill Delaney, CNN, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Case goes to the jury right now and of course we will keep you posted.

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