TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-
The pain of being swatted on the buttocks with canes and punched in the head during a fraternity initiation was indescribable, a former Florida A&M University student testified Friday at a hazing trial.
“It’s the worst pain I ever felt,” 20-year-old Marcus Jones testified. “I’ve never felt pain like that.”
Five Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brothers 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.
Jones said the initiation ritual took place on four nights in February. At one point, it was so intense that he passed out, Jones said.
Jones said he was hospitalized for two days back home in Decatur, Ga. He had a torn ear drum and temporarily lost his hearing. His left ear now has healed and his hearing is back to normal, but he still has pain, Jones testified.
On the first two nights, the hazing took place in a house’s darkened room so he was unable to tell who was hitting him with canes, bare fists and boxing gloves, he said. After a one-day break, the hazing moved to a warehouse for the next two days, he said.
Up to 27 pledges initially were blindfolded for part of the hazing there, Jones testified. Later they were allowed to remove the blindfolds and he was able to see their tormentors as the punishment continued, he said.
Jones testified that Michael Morton, 23; Brian Bowman, 23; Cory Gray, 22; and Marcus Hughes, 21 took turns striking the initiates one at a time with canes as they bent over with one arm stretched forward and the other protecting their genitals.
The fifth defendant, Jason Harris, 25, had a different role, Jones said. When a candidate would pass out, Harris would revive them by pouring water on their faces and then admonish “you can take it, be strong,” Jones testified.
All the defendants are charged with a third-degree felony, with penalties ranging from probation to five years in prison, if it results in death or “serious bodily injury.” That term is not defined in the law but is a key issue in the case.
Defense lawyers contend the injuries were not serious.
The prosecution rested later Friday, and the defense briefly questioned Jones’ mother, Carolyn, before the trial recessed. It will resume Oct. 9.
Jones, a sophomore majoring in environmental studies, has not returned to school since the hazing. The university has suspended the accused fraternity brothers pending the trial’s outcome and banished Kappa Alpha Psi from campus until 2013.
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