There are two sides of the story, so the courts need to decide if it was self defense or if it was pure aggression.  On May 29th, Nathaniel Ward, 25, died from a punch to the head that caused a blunt-force injury to his brain.  His buddy Colin Costanzo was with him at the time but was also punched.  

According to Costanzo he and Ward and some other friends were exiting a cab when Sam Bonsu approached them.  Bonsu punched Costanzo from behind knocking him senseless. 

When Costanzo came around, he saw that Ward was already on the ground unconscious.  Costanzo testified that he and his two friends carried Ward up to Costanzo’s apartment and called 911.

Ward was discharged about 24 hours after being admitted.  He had regained consciousness.  But when Ward got home, his condition became worse.  At the end Ward died from the injury to his brain.  Prosecutor said that, “He was punched so hard it caused his brain to bleed.”

But Bonsu, 35, says it was self defense.  He is being charged for assault and murder and could face a maximum of 29 years to life in prison.  His attorney says that the four boys, including Ward and Costanzo were drunk.

Bonsu approached Costanzo and friends because he had nearly collided with their cab.  The four boys yelled at Bonsu after the near collision.  They used profanities and insulting hand gestures. 

Bonsu, a black man, became surrounded by these four drunken white boys, his attorney explained, so Bonsu thought “I’m going to die.”  Bonsu said that he hit the two boys only after Costanzo put his hand up in a threatening manner and when someone hit him with a bag from behind.

Costanzo denies this version of the story.

Pacific Law Center
San Diego Assault Lawyer
1-800-508-0000

Tags: Assault, attorney, battery, lawyer, murder, San Diego