SHERIDAN, Wyo. – A man who punched a Sheridan, Wyo., hockey coach so hard he died now claims he acted in self-defense.

Cody McCalla, 34, faces a manslaughter charge in the July 12 death of Patrick Mudd, 48, who died a day after McCalla hit him outside a rodeo while that the two were fighting for a parking space.

McCalla’s attorney requested a John hearing, in which a defendant is allowed to ask a judge to dismiss a case on self-defense grounds.

The prosecutor’s office filed a rebuttal on Monday opposing the claim of self-defense.

The judge in the case has yet to rule on the request. A trial is scheduled to begin in the first week of March.

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