So what do you think? Is he guilty of manslaughter? I say yes! He did more than anything in self-defense - much more than just "three quick punches" as he and his son testified. He was down on the ground banging that man's head against it over and over!! A woman that was there and also testifed said she saw what he was doing and had screamed so many things at him to stop, you're going to kill him, etc., etc. She'd not have had time to say all of this if it were just "three quick punches".

I feel sorry for all of the kids present who had to witness such a thing. ='(

Kell

I talked about this with my family. I personally believe it should be 2nd degree murder. He used enough violence to kill the man. He didn't punch him once and kill him. As you said he beat the man's head on the ground repeatedly. That's not manslaughter. It wasn't negligence. He,in anger and rage, beat a man to death.
I agree, those poor kids.

I have to admit that I didn't pay too much attention to the articles in the paper or the news on tv because I've just lost some confidence that the information I'm getting is very factual. It is one case where I would have liked to have been in the courtroom so I could have formed my own opinion.

Here's a little information that I can add - the coach died because of a burst vein in his neck which does not require much force to do. It is the same thing that can kill you if you suffer whip lash in a car accident - also there are no symptoms of having this damage. You can survive the crash, have no symptoms, but can die weeks later because the damaged vein just lets loose.

A question here- which did he get? manslaughter or second degree?? He should've gotten second degree if he didnt. that dude is dangerous and he needs to be good and put away!!

Parents can be such scheisskopfs over kids sports. Sometimes I think parents should be barred from watching- the kids cant be learning anything positive. But hey - what do I know- I dont have kids!!

He got Involuntary Manslaughter but he hasn't been sentenced yet. I believe it carries the same maximum sentence but I think the diferrence is that there is no mandatory sentence so it is totally up to the judge - that means that he can even waive any jail time.

I think he should have gotten 2nd degree murder - it was a crime of passion. If not that, then at least manslaughter - not involutary manslaughter. Any grown man should know that if you beat someone's head against a hard surface repeatedly, they'll end up with more than a headache! I wonder what the judge will sentence him to. I guess he can get anywhere from probation to 20 years. Kinda lax!

Kell

I agree, he should have gotten a 2nd Degree Murder decision. I think I heard that he could serve a minimum of 2 to 5 years, up to a maximum of 20 (or, was it 10?), for the Involuntary Manslaughter charge. I think that this judge needs to make some kind of example of this guy, as a message to other parents who want to settle kids' sports' disputes by using their fists on other parents. This is just so totally uncalled for. If, as Connie mentioned, it was a vein that burst when the man was hitting the victim... it is even possible that the vein was in a weakened state from something totally unrelated to the incident. BUT, when you injure someone else, and things are worse because that victim had a pre-existing condition, basic law states that the perpetrator is totally responsible for 100% of the resulting damage, be it injury or death. A perpetrator who causes injury to another is not allowed to capitalize on the fact that someone was already impaired in some way. (I learned this when I was involved in a lawsuit for a wreck that I was injured in.)

Anyway, I think Hockey Dad is on his way to jail, at least for a couple of years, minimum.

azspirit