GUILTY UT - Ricardo Portillo, 46, soccer ref, punched by player, dies, 27 April 2013

[JeannaT]

a bruise, just like the millions of punches thrown every week by testosterone fueled boys and men. It was totally wrong of him, but imo his harshest punishment is that he knows he killed a man, he has to live with that for the rest of his life. Some things are just tragic, not intentional malice..if he hadn't died the kid likely wouldn't even have been arrested just given a red card and benched for a few games. Fact is the outcome was accidental, not the behavior, he knew he was throwing a punch but i would bet my life he had no idea he was doing something life threatening.

Hmm. I've seen kids like this on the soccer field, and they don't belong there. They're a threat to everyone on the opposing team, and to the officials.

If this were a case of him flying in to a rage and flinging equipment and accidentally hitting and killing someone, I would agree that it wasn't intentional. That's why there are serious penalties in baseball for throwing a bat - because you can hurt someone very badly unintentionally.

This was intentional felony assault, and now this kind man is dead. Murder.

I would feel differently if he had shoved him and the man fell over and surprised everyone by being seriously injured. A full force punch to the face is deadly conduct.

 

[i.b.nora]

Teen charged in ref death case
08 MAY 2013

"Authorities say the teenager was playing goalkeeper when 46-year-old Ricardo Portillo called a penalty on him for pushing an opposing player. The teenager began arguing with Mr Portillo and then struck him in the head.

Mr Portillo was taken to the hospital in fair condition. Hours later, he went into a coma. He never regained consciousness and died on Saturday."

From: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/teen-charged-in-ref-death-case-29252594.html

 

[MsFacetious]

A 17-year-old charged with causing the death of a referee who was officiating his soccer match pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of homicide by assault.

Jose Domingo Teran was then sentenced to serve time in a juvenile prison until he turns 21 — the maximum sentence in the juvenile system.
Third District Juvenile Judge Kim Hornak also ordered that a picture of the victim be posted in Teran's cell and that he write weekly letters to the victim's daughters.

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"Yes," Teran replied, later explaining the crime in a brief sentence: "I was frustrated, hit the ref and caused his death."

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Teran apologized to the victim's family.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...ted-says-teen-who-admits-killing-referee.html

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=26304898&n...-soccer-referee&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-1