Trial for 3 ex-band members accused in 2011 hazing death begins

ORLANDO, Fla. — Three former members of the Florida A&M University marching band went on trial on Tuesday on charges of manslaughter and felony hazing in the death of a drum major in a 2011 incident that drew attention to dangerous college hazing practices.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers delivered opening statements to jurors in the trial of Benjamin McNamee, Aaron Golson and Darryl Cearnel, who each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

It is the second trial stemming from the death of Robert Champion, 26, after a ritual beating on the band’s bus.

In all, prosecutors charged 15 members of the school’s acclaimed “Marching 100” band. The man described by prosecutors as the ringleader in the beating, percussionist Dante Martin, was convicted in January and sentenced to more than six years in prison.

Eleven others pleaded guilty after making deals with prosecutors.

“These young people … all knew this was illegal,” prosecutor Jeff Ashton told jurors in his opening statement.

Lawyers for the defendants called Champion’s death a tragedy but not a crime.

Craig Brown, Golson’s lawyer, told jurors a large number of band members participated in a long-standing ritual on the band’s charter bus that had never before resulted in a death.

“What you will find is it was just pure chaos but what you will not find is that there was any conspiracy,” Brown said.

Anthony Britt, Cearnel’s lawyer, said his client tried to save Champion after the beating by giving him first aid, and there was no evidence of him committing a crime.

The others charged in the death accepted plea deals and received community service sentences. One of them, Jessie Baskin, was also sentenced last year to 51 weeks in prison.

The Florida A&M band, which has performed at the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards and presidential inaugurations, was suspended by the school for more than a year after Champion’s death.

Authorities said Champion died from shock caused by severe bleeding after being hazed. The accused band members were charged with punching, kicking and striking Champion during a ritual known as “Crossing Bus C.”

The incident prompted the resignation of several prominent school officials at the historically black college.

The university says it has since strengthened its anti-hazing policy, hired a compliance officer for the music department and a special assistant to the president to combat hazing, among other steps aimed at reducing violent behavior.