Timothy Piazza Hazing Death Hearing Update: What’s Next For Penn State Fraternity Brothers?
After preliminary hearings for 16 Penn State fraternity brothers Monday, the judge presiding over the case announced the hearing would continue next month to determine whether there was enough evidence to bring charges. The brothers were charged in connection with the death of Timothy Piazza, who died during after a night of hazing at the Beta Theta Pi house in February.
Read: Timothy Piazza ‘Looked Like A Corpse’ In Penn State Fraternity Hazing Video
Judge Allen Sinclair announced the hearing would continue July 10 and 11 at Pennsylvania’s Centre County Courthouse to conclusively decide whether charges would be brought. Of the 16 defendants, some were charged with aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter while others faced lesser charges. Two additional fraternity members who were charged with tampering with evidence waived the hearing. The students had not yet entered pleas, according to ABC News.
During Monday’s 11-hour hearing, a single witness was called to testify. State Collece Police Detective David Scicchitano discussed surveillance video from the fraternity house on which Piazza’s last moments were captured.
“He looked dead,” said Scicchitano. “He looked like a corpse.”
Piazza was recorded on the footage repeatedly falling and going in and out of consciousness. Despite his deteriorated condition, fraternity brothers did not call 911 for more than 12 hours after he originally fell down a flight of stairs. At certain portions of the video, members of the fraternity could be seen pouring liquid on Piazza and slapping him in an attempt to rouse him.
“He is unconscious,” Scicchitano said of one portion of the tape. “His eyes are closed. He is limp. He is dead weight.”
Scicchitano also read a text message conversation between fraternity president Brendan Young and pledge master Daniel Casey.
Piazza’s parents, who left the room while the recording was being shown at the hearing, expressed disgust at the actions of the fraternity brothers present at the testimony.
“Following the hearing, most, but not all, of the fraternity brothers and their families got together, laughed, patted each other on the back and hugged as if this was just another fraternity get together,” Piazza’s father told reporters Tuesday. “We are highly offended by the insensitivity displayed given the severity of the crimes committed and the ultimate outcome.”
Piazza’s parents also said the brothers were responsible for their son’s death, as the doctor at the hospital told them he would have lived had he been brought in earlier.
“What happened throughout that night was just careless disregard for human life,” his father told NBC’s “Today” in May. “They basically treated our son as roadkill and a ragdoll.”
On the night of Piazza’s death, he was involved in a hazing ritual known as “the gauntlet” in which pledges were made to consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
Read: Timothy Piazza’s Death Was ‘Murder’ And ‘Torture,’ Parents Say
“This wasn’t boys being boys,” his father said. “This was the murder of our son. They tortured him for 12 hours. They let him suffer for 12 hours. He died a slow and painful death at the hands of these ‘men of principle,’ as they call it.”
Though it won’t be decided whether the case will go to trial until the hearing concludes next month, some of the brothers could face up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.
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