I think the max is 5 years for involuntary manslaughter. Sad isn't it?

I hope he gets those 5 too. He can cut that sentence in half with good behavior in prison.

Actually, I think that the maximum sentence is actually much longer, around 20-25 years. They were saying he will get much less because it is a first offense.

This case has just become a horrible ordeal overall. I can't imagine having to take the stand to defend my father, let alone doing it when 12 years old. In addition, as in many cases like this, there are many different sides of the story. Some say that the assailant only landed a couple of off-balance blows. Some say it was several powerful ones. One doctor is saying that the injury could have been caused by one well-placed punch, and one says that it took several aggravated punches to cause death.

I will agree with justamom that this is indicative of the larger problem. As someone who played organized sports all through my childhood, right up until the end of high school, this seems to be a problem everywhere. From Little League to varsity sports, you always had those parents who always went too far. Now, most of the time that entails getting in screaming matches with other parents/coaches, or the parent just making an ass out of himself or herself. After this incident though, it will be interesting to see if there are any changes in parental behavior at sporting events. It's extremely sad, but it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.

Collin

On court tv they said that 5 years was the max for involuntary manslaughter. The 20 to 25 years was for the manslaughter option.

This type of rink rage is definitely getting worse, i can't imagine my grandparents yelling obscenities at other grandparents at the ol' ballpark. We may very well see private and public policing at these games to ensure the safety of everyone involved. There's been reports about the significant decline in volunteers willing to referee these sports.

This reply looks harsher in print than it sounded in my mind, and is more extreme than warranted. I apologize if it insulted you.

How do we as ? I dont know. I was aghast at seeing this the first time on TV!

I was very lucky as a Police Officer not tot have shot any one in 7 yearrs!

I do not condone what this guy did by any stretch of the mind, but if a guy came at me and did what he supossedly di, I would beat him until I felt safe! I had aOfficer Who is now Cheif of the Dept. who threatened me on a situation! I flatly tolled him he would be the first asswhole I would come looking for!

Violence begats violence! I carried a big GUN and figured our real quick I had the hand of GOD in my hand! It is and was an awesome responibility!. Life or Death!

We were not there so we who try to judge a have never been in the position to be there!

You have a short time time to do what you do!

I do not agree with all Of the decisions that come down but if it is something I have seen, WELL ??

Your right James. Its all about the fight or flight response it all of us during a crisis situation. I've been a group home counselor and a juv correctional officer and can understand where your coming from. Someone should go to jail if someone dies. Thats just the way it is. Both of them had bad anger management and in the heat of anger they should have just walked away. I agree that its a whole different dynamic when your in a fight or when your doing things in the heat of anger. They both made their choices to get involved.

I have been following this to an extent and here is my humble opinion....

1. The victim attacked Junta first. Just because you are the aggressor does not mean that you won't get your ass kicked, or worse. He took a risk when he decided to get physical. I am not saying that this makes it ok to kill him, I am just saying that he assumes some risk.

2. I have a real problem with any sports program that would allow a team of little 10 year-old boys to play against a team of 12 and 13 year-old boys, especially in an aggressive contact sport like hockey. That is just a set-up for disaster. I think that the program ought to be held partially responsible.

3. Granted, Junta got carried away and kept on beating Costin once he was down and out....that was the part that did it. If he would have killed him with the first or second punch, just after Costin came at him with the blades, it would have been simple self-defense. But when you have been attacked like that and especially when your kid has taken some lumps, you do tend to lose it.

I think he definitely deserves to be punished.....but how much? I don't think that years in prison are warranted here. Probation is probably not enough, but I can't see the justification in a max term.

I apologize for my original post. I was tired when i wrote it and not thinking straight. I did not realize it would offend anyone and for that I am sorry.

James, I missed your original post but thank you for the apology.

Junta got 6-10 years.

Amen.

Poor bastard . . I bet that is a guy that wishes he had never let his son play hockey that day or just let his son get hurt without aaiying anything. ITs a shame they made an example of him, if it had happened in say a bar fight he would have gotten minimum time. But ofcourse we need to send a message aboutsports violence to people . . please. All we did was distroy his family for 6 years plus. Further when he gets out he is a felon, no voting, restricted job access, a pariah in certain circles.

the thing with Junta is that he has a history of violence:

- Junta's wife was granted a restraining order
against her husband in 1991 when she alleged he beat her continuously in front of their two children and another child. A
court ordered Junta out of the couple's Charlestown neighborhood apartment and gave his wife temporary custody of the children.

- In 1992, police arrested Junta on charges
he punched a Boston police officer and ripped a gold chain off his neck, according to court documents. Junta was not convicted -- the case was continued without a finding after he admitted to sufficient facts -- but a Boston Municipal Court judge
ordered him to pay the officer $250 in restitution.


So had he gotten the min. time - i would have been very disappointed in our legal system. There are certian people you make examples of - i think this is a case you do that with.

Well what the hell did Junta do to Costin's family indefinately? :rolleyes:

How does it help the family it would be better to have him pay reparations and be partly responsible for them for 6 years plus.

It doesn't help a social situation to just toss him in jail.

You guys are taking it to personally, there is a larger issue.