Sentencing In 2013 Frat Hazing Death Of Baruch Freshman

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Four New York City men face sentencing in the death of a 19-year-old pledge during a 2013 hazing ritual in Pennsylvania.

Baruch College freshman Chun "Michael'' Deng was blindfolded, forced to wear a heavy backpack and then repeatedly tackled in December 2013.

He was knocked unconscious during the incident and police said fraternity members waited more than an hour before taking Deng to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

A Pennsylvania coroner declared Deng's death a homicide.

Police charged 37 people.

The four defendants to be sentenced Monday pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and face jail time.

Their fraternity, Pi Delta Psi, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter following a trial. It has been banned from Pennsylvania for 10 years and ordered to pay a fine of more than $110,000 for its role in Deng's death.

Deng's mother prepared a statement to be read at the sentencing. Mary Deng wrote the pain feels like "a cat clawing and scratching'' at her heart.

Defense attorneys have called Deng's death a tragedy but said their clients didn't intend to kill him. They characterized it as a fraternity prank gone horribly awry.

Baruch College threw the fraternity chapter off campus permanently in response to the incident.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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