(as reported by the Toronto Star – May 5, 2009)
High school player accused of manslaughter swore at referee who called penalty, court hears
May 05, 2009 04:30 AM
Bob Mitchell STAFF REPORTER
A Mississauga high school rugby player drove an opponent into the ground with a "spear tackle," a witness testified yesterday at the teen's manslaughter trial in Brampton.
Craig Inward, a parent watching the fatal game, said the Erindale Secondary School player went berserk after being called for an infraction against 15-year-old Manny Castillo.
The accused "was stamping his feet and swearing and berating the referee" before it became apparent Manny had been badly hurt in the game at Lorne Park on May 7, 2007. He went into convulsions and died a few days later in hospital.
The Erindale player, now 18, whose name is protected by law, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in his non-jury trial before Justice Bruce Duncan.
It would be manslaughter if the two agreed to fight on the street and Manny was "slammed" to the ground and died, prosecutor John Raftery said in his opening.
"There is nothing magical because it happened on a rugby pitch."
Inward said there appeared to be no reason for the scuffle after the ball came out of a scrum 20 to 30 metres away. The Erindale player's conduct stood out even before the tragic incident, Inward said.
"He was fairly aggressive," Inward said. "He was playing contrary to the laws of the game."
Inward admitted under cross-examination by defence lawyer Calvin Barry that he missed most of the game, but said he had a "clear and unobstructed view" of the confrontation.
Inward, also a rugby coach, was at the park to watch his children in other games. He said players are allowed to tackle or make contact only with players who have the ball or are going after it. "It's not acceptable to tackle somebody who doesn't have the ball."
His attention was drawn to two players from opposing teams near the end of the game. Inward said he saw the Erindale player pick up Manny and throw him over his back. The Erindale player then "drove him into the ground," Inward testified.
When the referee blew his whistle to call a penalty, Inward said, the Erindale player went berserk. "Usually, you take your punishment and move on quietly, but his was strange behaviour," he testified. "He was screaming and swearing. He exploded."
Another Crown witness, Lorne Park player Andrew Forth, agreed with Barry that the accused said something like, "You had me in a headlock," after Manny was "picked up by his waist" and thrown to the ground.
"He (Manny) was dump tackled, but that usually only happens when you have the ball, and he didn't," Forth said. When Manny landed on his back, his head "snapped" back, Forth said. It soon became apparent he was injured.
"He was on his back ... He was gurgling and making unearthly sounds," Inward said. "He was in convulsions and there was foam coming from his mouth ..."
There is more to this story - check it out at the Toronto Star website. Here are my thoughts...From all reports that I have read of this incident, it sounds as if the accused had recurring behavioural problems and did not have the skills necessary to manage his aggression or to effectively release his anger. It would appear that he believed that his behavior was justified as is described by the “in your face” gesture he made towards Manny after the attack, as well as his response to the referee awarding him a penalty for his behavior.
I wonder where was the coach in this? Was he encouraging his players to
be aggressive, play hard – don’t let the other team intimidate? Was he counting on the players to
know what that meant (play the game with more passion – stay focused – stick to the plays - don’t back down when they try to intimidate you… as opposed to “get out there and beat the snot out of them”)? I’m not making an accusation, I’m just curious.
What it comes down to is that the accused made a decision based on how he was feeling at the time. He was angry. He was frustrated. He wanted satisfaction. He wanted immediate release for all that negative energy. He chose to do something that will (if he has a conscience) probably haunt him for the rest of his life – probably not the outcome he was hoping for.
What if athletes could learn how to manage their emotions even in the height of an intense game? What if they could maintain their focus and keep a positive outlook even when the game isn’t going their way? What if they could – at the peak of passion – make clear choices based on the outcomes they want rather than a short-term feeling of satisfaction?
What if your teenager could just play without the risk of going to jail or ending up dead on the field, court, or ice?
What if that were possible by introducing the principles of Anger Solutions into the mental conditioning of athletes? Would the outcomes be worth it? Something for us to think about - and then take action on.
