Jury could get case against 3 charged in FAMU hazing death

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Prosecutors are close to wrapping their case against three former band members charged with manslaughter and hazing in the death of a Florida A&M University drum major.

State attorney Jeff Ashton says he expects to call his final witness – the medical examiner that performed the autopsy on 26-year-old Robert Champion- and rest his case Thursday morning.

Champion, of Decatur, Georgia, collapsed and died following a brutal hazing ritual aboard a parked bus after a football game in November 2011.

Benjamin McNamee, Darryl Cearnel and Aaron Golson are the final three defendants charged in Champion’s death. They are being tried together and face 15 years in prison.

Defense attorneys contend Defense there was no conspiracy at all and that the prosecution couldn’t prove any was directly responsible for killing Champion.