16 students face judge in Penn State hazing death of Timothy Piazza

Sixteen former members of a now-defunct Penn State fraternity returned to court Monday for a preliminary hearing that gave more detail on the tragic series of events that led to the death of Beta Theta Pi pledge Timothy Piazza.

Piazza, 19, died in a local hospital Feb. 4, about 30 hours after the start of a night of drinking and hazing that prosecutors say saw the former high school football star fall multiple times, including down a flight of stairs.

Video footage from the fraternity's extensive surveillance system was shown publicly for the first time when the preliminary hearing began last month in Bellefonte, Pa. Prosecutors used the video to help construct a timeline of the events that led to Piazza's death.

Physicians concluded Piazza suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries, including a fractured skull and a lacerated spleen.

The preliminary hearing will help the judge determine if there is enough evidence to try the students, who face charges ranging from manslaughter and aggravated assault to serving alcohol to minors. The hearing began June 12 and was continued until Monday. 

A grand jury issued a chilling report in May concluding that fraternity members were indifferent to Piazza's well-being as he struggled for his life, then attempted to conceal evidence of hazing and underage drinking. Text messages were deleted and members discussed erasing video from the fraternity's extensive surveillance system, the grand jury report said.

Piazza died as a "direct result of the extremely reckless conduct of members of the Beta fraternity," aided by the permissive atmosphere fostered by Penn State's Interfraternity Council, the grand jury found.

Two of the 18 students charged waived their right to the preliminary hearing.

The school barred the fraternity chapter from campus and has introduced new standards aimed at curbing excessive drinking at fraternities.

Read more:

'He looked like a corpse': Video shown of Penn State pledge after fatal injuries

Eight more arraigned in Penn State fraternity death

Penn State 'horrific' death: Pledge's family to sue school, fraternity