FAMU blames Robert Champion Jr. for his Hazing Death

In a ridiculous effort to drop the wrongful lawsuit against them, FAMU legal team claims that Robert knew what he was doing and basically it's his fault for his own death.

Here's more:

FAMU's legal team contends that the school should not be blamed when the young man died doing something he knew was against state law and university policy. The university's attorneys cited Hollis' sworn statement, released last week, that explained the reasons why he and Champion agreed to be hazed after the Florida Classic football game in Orlando on Nov. 19.

"In the final analysis, neither Mr. Champion, Mr. Hollis, hotel security, nor law enforcement experts — with all their specialized crime prediction and prevention training and resources — were able to predict or prevent this shocking and depraved hazing incident, and therefore, it would be unfair and illogical to hold FAMU to a different and higher level of omnipotence," according to the document, authored by attorney Rick Mitchell of GrayRobinson of Orlando.

"Respectfully, as a 26 year old adult and leader in FAMU's band, Mr. Champion should have refused to participate in the planned hazing event and reported it to law enforcement or University administrators. Under these circumstances, Florida's taxpayers should not be held financially liable to Mr Champion's Estate for the ultimate result of his own imprudent, avoidable and tragic decision and death."

Really? The Champion family attorney was stunned at this motion, and I am too. To say it's the student's fault almost protects the hazing culture.

How can they blame Robert for this terrible incident? Are they aware of the message they are sending to the public? Their response is weak and unacceptable.

FAMU needs to be held accountable for this bullsh*t.

13 People Charged for the Death of Robert Champion

Finally, some real movement in the Robert Champion/FAMU case. 13 people were charged for his death in the band bus.

The Grio reports

State Attorney Lawson Lamar said 11 of the 13 people will face a hazing resulting death charge, a third-degree felony. If convicted, they could face up to nearly six years in prison. The other two people will face a misdemeanor charges.

The names of those charged will not be released until they are all arrested, Lamar said. It was also not immediately clear whether they were all band members.

Legal experts had predicted prosecutors may file more serious charges like manslaughter and second-degree murder. The Champion family attorney, Christopher Chestnut, said they were disappointed.

"They had hoped for more serious charges. They were hoping for a stronger message. He was beaten to death," he said.

Prosecutors, however, didn't think they had enough evidence.

"The testimony obtained to date does not support a charge of murder, in that it does not contain the elements of murder," Lamar said. "We can prove participation in hazing and a death. We do not have a blow or a shot or a knife thrust that killed Mr. Champion. It is an aggregation of things which exactly fit the Florida statute as written by the Legislature."

I wished for more serious charges, but this is a start.