TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-
The surgeon who operated on an aspiring Florida A&M University fraternity member testified Thursday in a hazing trial that he considered the student’s injuries serious although he had no broken bones, muscle damage or lasting effects other than a scar.
The seriousness of the injuries is a key issue. Five defendants are among the first to be charged with violating Florida’s new anti-hazing law, which makes it a felony to cause serious bodily damage or death.
Four men are accused of beating Marcus Jones, 20, of Decatur, Ga., with canes and boxing gloves to the point that he suffered a perforated eardrum and needed surgery to remove a blood clot from his buttocks.
The fifth defendant is accused of encouraging Jones and other candidates to bear up under the beatings and reviving them with water if they passed out.
Dr. David Fern said the buttock injury was as severe as anything he has seen in an auto accident but acknowledged that it affected only 1 percent of the victim’s body; that there was no muscle, nerve or vein damage; and that the injury has healed nicely.
“I consider it a serious injury,” Fern said. “He could have had other potential problems.”
Jones briefly took the stand Thursday and was questioned about a fraternity investigator’s testimony on how he could identify one suspect–Brian Bowman, 23–while blindfolded.
“There’s no doubt in my mind,” Jones said. “I can identify his voice.”
Accused are Bowman, Cory Gray, 22; Marcus Hughes, 21; Michael Morton, 23; and Jason Harris, 25. Harris is not accused of wielding a cane or boxing gloves.
Also Thursday, Jones’ father denied his family has a financial motive for seeking the five men’s criminal prosecution.
Army Master Sgt. Mark Jones Jr. acknowledged he has hired a civil law firm but said he wanted the attorneys to help him handle the news media.
When asked whether he was planning to sue, he said he was interested only in making sure justice was carried out.
“There was this big, huge purple ball protruding out of his right buttocks,” he said. “I was angry, very angry. My wife was terrified.”
Penalties for violating the anti-hazing law can range from probation to five years in prison.
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