NATICK (AP) - A father who beat another man to death at their sons' hockey practice has been denied parole for the second time.

In 2002, truck driver Thomas Junta was sentenced to 6 to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Costin.

This morning, the state Parole Board rejected Junta's second request for release, finding that Junta has "minimized his behavior" and not fully accepted responsibility for his actions.

Junta testified that he confronted Costin after his son was elbowed in the face during a practice Costin was supervising. Witnesses said Junta struck Costin repeatedly in the head while pinning him to the floor of a Reading ice rink.

The fight was witnessed by about a dozen children, including Junta's son and Costin's three sons.

Acting on the state prosecutors' recommendation, Judge Charles Grabau gave Junta double what the Massachusetts sentencing guidelines outline for such a sentence.

Junta said he acted in self-defense after they argued over rough play during a practice Costin was supervising. But witnesses said Junta struck Costin repeatedly in the head while pinning him to the floor of the Burbank Ice Arena in Reading.

The case became a symbol of parental violence at youth sporting events.

Junta's first bid for parole was denied last year. On Thursday afternon, he made his second request during a closed hearing before a three-member panel. A decision is expected within days.

Junta claimed he killed Costin, 40, in self-defense after they argued over rough play during a practice on July 5, 2000.

The nine women and three men of the jury deliberated about 13 hours after a weeklong trial that threw a spotlight on the problem of parental violence at youth sporting events and drew national attention.

Junta testified he tried to avoid coming to blows with Costin, but fought back after the 156-pound Costin threw a "sucker punch" at him, jumped on him and continued to hit and kick him after the two men fell to the floor. Junta claimed he landed just three "off-balance" punches.

Medical experts for both sides said Costin died of a ruptured artery in his neck, which caused severe brain damage. But they differed sharply on how much force was needed to cause the fatal injury.

Dr. Stanton Kessler, the prosecution's witness, said Costin sustained "severe trauma" from repeated blows to his head and neck. Dr. Ira Kanfer, a defense witness, said a single blow could have caused the artery to rupture.

The fatal fight was witnessed by about a dozen children, including Junta's son and Costin's three sons.