Thomas Junta

Thomas Junta was an American hockey dad from Reading, Massachusetts, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2002 after his attack on Michael Costin led to Costin's death.^[1] Costin was the informal referee of a pick-up hockey game involving the men's sons.^[2] The attack and the fight which ensued was witnessed by about a dozen children, including Junta's son and Costin's three sons.

Junta was originally charged with voluntary manslaughter. The jury acquitted him on this charge, instead convicting him of involuntary manslaughter, a lesser offense, on the basis of his claim of self-defense.^[3] Judge Charles Grabau sentenced Junta to incarceration for six to ten years.^[4]

In April 2008, Junta was denied parole for the second time. In denying his request, the Massachusetts Parole Board said that "Junta had failed to fully accept responsibility for his actions".^[5]

Junta was released on August 27, 2010.^[6] He died on December 16, 2020, after a battle with cancer.^{[citation needed]}