UPDATE: 4/25: After deliberating for two-and-a-half hours on Friday, the Associated Press reported, a jury found Benjamin McNamee, Darryl Cearnel and Aaron Golson guilty of manslaughter and hazing in the 2011 death of Robert Champion. The defendants were the final three of the 15 people charged in the Florida A&M University (FAMU) drum major's death.
--Original Story--
The trial for the final three defendants facing charges in the trial for the 2011 hazing death of Florida A&M University (FAMU) drum major Robert Champion is heading to closing arguments.
According to the Associated Press, Judge Renee Roche delayed the closing arguments to ask jurors if they saw two of the three defendants praying outside the courtroom, per State Attorney Jeff Ashton's request. Six said they had, but all said it would not affect their judgment during deliberation.
Darryl Cearnel, Aaron Golson and Benjamin McNamee are the final three defendants facing manslaughter charges in Champion's death, allegedly during an initiation ritual for the FAMU marching band. Those who participated in hazing Champion allegedly beat him with instruments while also kicking and punching him as he tried to get from one end of a bus to the other.
"I believe they were just expressing their religious freedom," one juror said of the questions regarding the defendants' public prayers, according to the Orlando Sentinel. "The facts are still the facts."
With closing arguments set to resume Friday, Ashton argued the defendants broke anti-hazing laws by participating in the events that led to Champion's death. Along with manslaughter, the three are charged with felony hazing.
After Ashton delvers his closing argument, three defense attorneys will do the same, sending the jury off to deliberate. This trial appears to be the last associated with Champion's death.
"What we've shown you is a world that is somewhat hard to understand," Ashton said. "It's a world where tradition takes precedence over the law... Somebody had to die to start the process of people understanding that tradition is not the most important thing."
