What about victim's past in Rink Rage killing?

Boston Globe, Mike Savage ^ | 1-11-02 | kurtz

[wardaddy]

CAMBRIDGE - The Reading father accused of savagely beating to death another man over rough play at their sons' hockey practice was a ''gentle giant'' who rightfully defended himself when the other father attacked him twice, his lawyer said yesterday during closing arguments in Thomas Junta's manslaughter trial.

[wardaddy]

I'm 6'5" and 215 lbs. and have been thoroughly whipped by guys much smaller who overpowered me with speed and agility. All things being equal then size does help. I'm suprised that the history of assault charges and other criminal elements in the victim's past have not come to light till now. I can't say whether it's relevant or not but there seems to have been a concerted effort by the media to conceal this.

I would like to hear FReeper thoughts on these revelations in light of this tragedy.

[wardaddy]

This case is one of the rare times in which myself and my wife are in disagreement.

[sheik yerbouty]

The People's Republic of Massachusetts does not recognize self defense as a legal defense.

[toupsie]

I believe that self-defense is the ultimate right of every human being. If Junta was attacked and felt his safety was threatened, his actions were justified even though he killed the coach. I feel the justice system sides with the attacker too often in self defense cases. You lay one punch on me, I will fight till you can't do it again.

[ResignedRepub]

This is one of those rare cases where I don't know who to believe because it's too hard to see through the media smokescreen to the truth. We may never know.

[Alberta's Child]

If the defense was allowed to introduce the victim's medical and criminal records, it would only be fair to allow the prosecution to introduce the perpetrator's past, too. He's got a few criminal skeletons in his closet, too.

[wardaddy]

When I was listening to Savage's rantings last night on the drive home. He disclosed the victim's past and only because a reporter from Newsweek (I think) had been in his studio doing a story on him (Savage) and the reporter disclosed this info. It seemed from what I heard that the victim was the type of guy who spoiled for fights as a rule as well as came from a family in which this type of behavior was not uncommon. On the other hand ....does this matter? I know in rape cases it is verboten and the court's have ruled that a rape victim's past is irrelevant...rightly so in my opinion with rare exceptions. However..if a guy with a history of fighting is killed in a fight by a guy who has no history of this at all (that I know of) then it does raise my eyebrows...particularly in light of the fact that he's facing a 20 year bit. Could the prosecutrix be looking for a notch in her belt here? I'm simply not sure but it does raise questions to me.

[Uglywhiteguy]

You stand back 2 arm lengths from someone to make it hard for them to hit you......I was always taught in Karate class that the idea in a fight was to hit the other person a few times to stun them, then to leave the area...

Killing or maiming someone was never discussed...You don't take someone's life over hockey practice

[mvpel]

Why did Junta come back in after the first row, I have to ask.

[stainlessbanner]

Junta had a confrontation with the other man, left the scene, and returned to"finish" the fight.

When I grew up, fighting was illegal. I don't feel sorry for this jerk one bit. Had he nor fought the man, he would not be facing a jury today. Bad judgement, Junta.

[wardaddy]

I've never started a fight in my life but being big for my age when I was a kid I had to fight older guys all the time. You are correct. A fight is over when the other guy is outta gas. Fights really get dangerous when one is one the ground and overpowered...it's easy to choke someone out indefinitely. Always something I avoided if at all possible. I can understand how in the heat of a fight ...it is very easy not to know when enough is enough. This is not to say the accused doesn't deserve some punishment.

[wardaddy]

I'm not aware of the accused's skeletons AC...please elaborate.

[Protagoras]

I'm suprised that the history of assault charges and other criminal elements in the victim's past have not come to light till now.

The news media have reported that both men have a legal history of violence and anger management problems. Assaults and the like. Both men.

During the trial, such information is inadmissable. It will come out in court during sentencing, if that occurs.

[07055]

He said he punched him quickly three times only after finding he couldn't wrest his wrist from the man's grip. When Costin held up his hand as if he had had enough, Junta stopped and stood up, Orlandi said. But Calkins scoffed at the defense's contention that Junta wasn't powerful enough to escape.

''Where's the injury on his left wrist from this death grip he was trying to get away from?'' she asked.

This evidence seems pretty significant to me.

Can anyone elaborate on it?

[Judith Anne]

His kid(s) were still in there, changing clothes. He may have been concerned for their safety, given the earlier incident where his son got an elbow in the face.

[Redbob]

Maybe Junta didn't take that particular karate class.

Maybe the hallway wasn't two arms lengths wide.
When somebody attacks me, little sh*t or large, he's going to get hit back. And it may not be just one-for-one.

[wardaddy]

Why did Junta come back in after the first row, I have to ask.

That fact alone will probably get him at least a conviction on the involuntary charge. He should have gone off and licked his juevos...metaphorically speaking of course.

[Uglywhiteguy]

Be it an unborn life, or an adult one, they should all be sacred....I'm 6'3", 285, and work out..and most would have trouble putting me down, but I make a conscience effort to not throw my weight around and even put up with some who I could disable because all life is sacred.

And I have used my weapon in a war zone on more than one occasion...

[wardaddy]

Yes ... returned is a key sequence here. Where do you live where fighting is illegal between kids?

Never heard of such in Jackson Miss. where I grew up. Not to say the cops wouldn't break it up. Now fighting between adult men is illegal I suppose but one must be prepared to defend oneself or "stand up" particularly if one's family is at risk.

[wardaddy]

Well you outweigh me by 70 lbs and if we were having words I'd give you plenty of room for sure. The victim must have had a lot of game ...to his demise. He may have thought the guy wouldn't rile to the point he did.