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Court denies appeal for FAMU hazing defendant

Posted at 3:56 PM, Nov 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-18 15:56:10-05

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man found guilty of manslaughter and hazing in the death of a drum major at Florida A & M University has lost his appeal.

Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeal on Friday rejected arguments by lawyers for Dante Martin, who said Florida's hazing law is unconstitutionally vague and too broad.

Martin is serving a sentence of more than six years in the death of Robert Champion, who collapsed after being pummeled by fellow members of FAMU's famed Marching 100 band in 2011. The brutal ritual known as "crossing Bus C" involved being hit with fists and instruments down the aisle of the band's bus, which was parked outside an Orlando hotel after a football game.