Decision expected today for second group charged in Penn State hazing case
FILE PHOTO: This Nov. 9, 2017, file photo shows Penn State University’s shuttered Beta Theta Pi fraternity house in State College. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
(Bellefonte) — A district judge in Centre County is expected to decide today whether the second group of former fraternity brothers charged in relation to a hazing death at Penn State will go to trial. The defendants are facing charges including reckless endangerment and hazing.
The three-day preliminary hearing completed on Friday. Five defendants of this second group face reckless endangerment charges while others are charged with hazing, furnishing and unlawful acts relative to liquor.
The house manager of the now-banned Beta Theta Pi fraternity was charged with tampering with evidence for allegedly deleting some security footage.
Defense attorneys argue their clients couldn’t have foreseen the consequences of that night when pledge Tim Piazza fell and eventually died. They said there was no evidence showing brothers were aware of how intoxicated Piazza was.
The prosecutor from the state attorney general’s office says the fraternity brothers took advantage of their dominance over pledges and planned the event with the purpose of getting them dangerously drunk. Prosecutors said footage showed Piazza was given 18 drinks in 82 minutes.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
