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American Morning

Hockey Dad, Medical Examiner To Take Stand Before Defense Rests

Aired January 09, 2002 - 09:05   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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Up front this morning, the father could take the witness stand today to explain to a jury in Massachusetts why he fought with and killed another father at a hockey practice, in front of the children who were present.

CNN's Michael Okwu is at the court house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with the latest. Michael?

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jack, good morning. CNN has learned that, in fact, the defense will definitely call on the defendant, Thomas Junta, to testify on his own behalf, at some point today. And that later at some point today, likely this afternoon, the defense will rest its case.

Now, we understand that the defense will call on a medical examiner first, before they call on Mr. Junta. All along, Junta's lawyer, Thomas Orlandi has argued that Junta acted in self-defense, and that, specifically, he hit Michael Costin, the victim in this case, only three times.

It is likely that testimony would focus on whether the damage that was sustained by Michael Costin's brain and an artery that fed blood into the brain could have occurred with just several blows.

Now, yesterday, Junta's 12-year-old son took the witness stand, for what was very dramatic and emotional testimony. He recalled the events of July 5, 2000. A hockey game that went awry. Where violence, where some rough play on the ice involving children escalated quickly to violence off the ice involving men. And he supported the defense claims that Thomas Junta acted in self-defense against Michael Costin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUINLAN JUNTA, AGE 12: Yes, my dad was holding him down with his hands so he couldn't hit him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where was your dad holding him?

JUNTA: Right about here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Okay. You are pointing to the, for the record, your honor, he's pointing to middle of his chest. Is that right, Quinlan?

JUNTA: About there, yeah.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Okay. And you said that you saw your dad hit Mr. Costin with three quick punches?

JUNTA: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fair to say you saw him hit him to the left side of Mr. Costin's face?

JUNTA: Yes. Right around there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: Expecting again a very dramatic and another emotional day in this trial. If, in fact, the defense does close its case today, which we expect they will, the jury could get the case, as early as Thursday evening. Jack?

CAFFERTY: All right, Michael, thank you very much. Michael Okwu at the courthouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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