while bandmates hit him. today florida prosecutors charged 11 alleged participants with what s called felony hazing. they charged two others with misdemeanors. if convicted, the maximum anyone could face for beating someone to death would be six years in prison. again, the question is why not murder or manslaughter charges? one answer, say prosecutors, is that it would be tough getting convictions with the evidence that they have. the testimony obtained to date does not support a charge of murder in that it does not contain the elements of murder. we can prove participation in hazing and a death. we do not have a blow or a shot or a knife thrust that killed mr. champion. it is an aggregation of things which exactly fit the florida statute as written by the legislature. well, that statute was written seven years ago with the best intentions to hold people accountable for hazing deaths. you have to wonder, though, does the very fact that it s on the books allow some people
today florida prosecutors charged 11 alleged participants with what s called felony hazing. they charged two others with misdemeanors. if convicted, the maximum anyone could face for beating someone to death would be six years in prison. again, the question is why not murder or manslaughter charges? one answer, say prosecutors, is that it would be tough getting convictions with the evidence that they have. the testimony obtained to date does not support a charge of murder in that it does not contain the elements of murder. we can prove participation in hazing and a death. we do not have a blow or a shot or a knife thrust that killed mr. champion. it is an aggregation of things which exactly fit the florida statute as written by the legislature. well, that statute was written seven years ago with the best intentions to hold people accountable for hazing deaths. you have to wonder, though, does the very fact that it s on the books allow some people to pay lighter penalties