The oldest is 12 years old. Costin's mother, a nurse who works the overnight shift, is now taking care of the children, Ellison said. Costin was divorced from the mother of his four children and had made many sacrifices and overcome obstacles to get them back, Ellison said. The Boston Globe reported today that Costin had served time in prison on seven occasions between 1983 and 1995. Meanwhile, Boston-area residents say they are having a hard time grasping that a dispute between two parents over a children's game could turn deadly.
Investigators say it was simply a hockey scrimmage, sort of a pick-up game, that turned fatal.
Prosecutors say Costin was subjected to brutal blows. The defendant struck repeated blows to the left side of Mr. Costin's head and neck. Junta's lawyer says his client was acting in self-defense, and that Costin started the fight. He has bruises and cuts on the inside of his legs where he was defending himself from where he was kicked. Junta is due back in court in August.