Former Cornell University Students Cleared In Fraternity Hazing Death Of NYC Student
ITHACA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Three men have been acquitted of charges stemming from the alcohol-related fraternity hazing death of a Cornell University student.
The Ithaca Journal reports that a judge on Tuesday acquitted Max Haskin, Ben Mann and Edward Williams of all charges in the February 2011 death of 19-year-old George Desdunes of Brooklyn.
The men's four-day bench trial ended May 24.
The three former Cornell fraternity pledges were accused of taking part in a hazing ritual during which Desdunes and another student were given cups of alcohol to drink.
Desdunes was found unconscious at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house in Ithaca with a blood alcohol content of .35 after the night of heavy drinking. He was later pronounced dead.
Authorities said he died from alcohol poisoning.
Desdunes' mother filed a $25 million-dollar wrongful-death lawsuit against the national fraternity last June.
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