Four former Baruch College students facing charges in a 2013 hazing-related death have pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
The four former fraternity members of Pi Delta Psi admitted to physically abusing Chun “Michael” Deng, a Baruch College student. They also admitted to trying to cover it up as the 19-year-old lay dying in their rented house in the Pocono Mountains.
The four defendants, Kenny Kwan, Charles Lai, Raymond Lam, and Sheldon Wong, had originally been charged with third-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to felony manslaughter and hindering apprehension charges.
They each face 22 to 36 months in prison and will be sentenced in December.
Via ABC:
The former fraternity brothers, now in their mid- to late 20s, were stoic in court and said nothing to reporters. Their lawyers didn’t comment. Police have said fraternity members blindfolded Deng, forced him to wear a heavy backpack and then repeatedly tackled him during the hazing ritual, known as glass ceiling.
Deng cursed and hit Lam at one point during the ritual, Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Kim Metzger told the judge. She said Kwan was the last brother to tackle Deng.
Deng fell unconscious and was carried inside the house while fraternity members changed his clothes and searched online for information about his symptoms, waiting an hour before taking him to the hospital, according to court documents. Deng, who suffered a brain injury, died a day later.
Dozens of other suspects face less serious charges, while one other suspect pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension and was sentenced to probation.
Furthermore, the Pi Delta Psi fraternity itself was charged with murder.
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