Victim's family speaks on Junta's release

READING, Mass. -- Thomas Junta, who beat a man to death at a hockey rink ten years ago is now a free man, and the victim's family is talking about his release.

The events that occurred at Burbank Ice Arena drew national attention to the problems of violence involved with youth sports. The deadly fight has not been forgotten by those who go to the rink.

Junta has been released after serving eight years of a ten year sentence for beating fellow hockey dad, Michael Costin, to death at their son’s hockey practice back in 2000.

Joan Costin said it’s just a sad reminder of the son she lost, and the father her grandchildren lost.

“He’s free. He’ll go home and give his son a hug and his daughter a hug and we’ll never see that again,” said Joan Costin, the victim’s mother.

At trial, Junta testified that he confronted Costin just after his son had been elbowed in the face on the ice, and Costin’s three boys saw their father beaten at the rink. The oldest son still plays hockey, but the younger two gave it up.

“Sean only went back to the Burbank rink with a counselor maybe three years ago, but no, he got turned off; and Michael. They don’t want any more of it,” said Joan Costin.

The Costin kids testified at sentencing, but now at Junta’s release, the boys’ grandmother said they told her that they want to put it all behind them.

“They said, ‘Let it be Nanny. Just don’t say much at all, because it doesn’t matter what we say now. He’s out, let’s hope these years taught him a lesson.’ And we shall see” said Joan Costin.

According to Joan Costin, she is proud of how all four of her grandchildren are looking forward, not back.

(Copyright (c) 2010 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)