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CNN Live At Daybreak

Hockey Dad To Be Sentenced Today

Aired January 25, 2002 - 06:31   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: A lot's happening later today. A sentencing hearing gets underway this morning for hockey dad Thomas Junta. Earlier this month he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the beating death of another hockey dad.

CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us live from the courthouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She has the latest -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Carol. Two weeks after he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Thomas Junta receives his punishment today in a case that captured attention nationwide as an extreme example of parental misbehavior.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All rise (ph).

QUIJANO (voice-over): It was January 11 when a jury of nine women and three men returned their verdict citing Thomas Junta guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

The decision based on four days of testimony all centered on a deadly fight a year and a half ago between two dads after their sons' hockey practice in Redding, Massachusetts. Prosecutors had argued 44- year old Junta beat Michael Costin, a father of four, after seeing rough play on the ice.

SHELIA CALKINS, PROSECUTOR: He was over Michael Costin and he was pounding Michael Costin on the left side of his head.

QUIJANO: Costin lost consciousness and died two days later. Junta's attorney said it was self-defense, and on the stand Junta himself testified that Costin, 125 pounds lighter than Junta, provoked the fight.

THOMAS JUNTA: I was like, why is he even jumping at me so fast, like crazy, I couldn't understand it.

QUIJANO: In the end the jury said the evidence and testimony pointed to involuntary manslaughter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We feel we reached a very difficult, but proper decision.

QUIJANO: In Massachusetts state sentencing guidelines suggest three to five years for involuntary manslaughter, but under state law, the judge could sentence Junta to up to 20 years in prison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: Now since his conviction Thomas Junta has been held without bond here at the courthouse. As for his sentencing, it's set to begin at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

We're live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I'm Elaine Quijano -- Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Of course we'll be following that sentencing. Thank you very much Elaine.

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