BELLEFONTE, Pa. — A preliminary hearing will continue next month for 16 members of a Penn State fraternity charged in connection with the death of a pledge who died after a drunken fall.
Eighteen Beta Theta Pi members and the fraternity itself are charged because of the death of 19-year-old Tim Piazza, of Lebanon, New Jersey.
Two fraternity brothers waived the hearing that began Monday with 11 hours of testimony. Online court records show it will continue July 10 and 11.
Centre County prosecutors say Piazza was directed to drink heavily before he fell several times. Help wasn’t called until the next morning, and Piazza later died of traumatic brain injuries.
Some defendants face charges of aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter. Others are accused of less serious crimes.