A jury in Orlando, Fla. has convicted the last three defendants of manslaughter and hazing in the death of a Florida A&M University drum major.
The Associated Press reports that, following over two hours of deliberation, the jury found 22-year-old Aaron Golson, 24-year-old Benjamin McNamee, and 28-year-old Darryl Cearnel guilty. They're took part in beating FAMU drum major Robert Champion to death back in November 2011:
The beating death of the 26-year-old Champion aboard a band bus after a football game exposed a culture of hazing within the school's band.
Champion ran through a gauntlet of fellow band members who punched, kicked and struck him with instruments. He collapsed and died a short time later.
According to the Associated Press, State's Attorney Jeff Aston detailed that culture of hazing. "Tradition: As a result of that, Robert Champion was beaten to death by his friends," he said. "They didn't beat him because they hated him. It was a tradition."
Cearnel, McNamee, and Golson will be sentenced in June. Each face as maximum of five years in prison for the hazing charge, and another 15 for the manslaughter charge.
[via Associated Press]
