Robert Champion

Jury Selected for 3 Defendants in FAMU Band Hazing Trial

Four men and four women have been selected in the manslaughter trial of the remaining three former band members charged in the hazing death of a Florida A&M drum major.

The eight-member panel was chosen Tuesday morning. Six will constitute the main jury, and two will serve as alternates.

Benjamin McNamee, Aaron Golson and Darryl Cearnel are being tried together. They face 15 years on manslaughter and felony hazing charges for the November 2011 death of 26-year-old Robert Champion.

Jury selection began Monday morning with attorneys questioning several dozen potential jurors about previous knowledge of the nearly 4-year-old incident, which exposed a culture of hazing within the school's famed Marching 100 band.

Opening statements also are set for Tuesday. The trial is expected to last a week.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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