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Dante Martinâthe former de facto student president of the hazing rituals conducted by Florida A&M Universityâs marching bandâwas sentenced to 77 months in prison (almost six-and-a-half years) for the 2011 hazing death of FAMU student and drum major Robert Champion, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Before Martinâs sentencing on manslaughter charges in Championâs death, his family, friends and former classmates testified and sent letters to Circuit Judge Renee Roche, asking that she be lenient when sentencing Martin, explaining that the hazing ritual was part of the bandâs tradition.
Roche explained that though Martin was a âremarkable young manâ with âlimitless potential,â forgiveness had no place in the criminal-justice system. âForgiveness ⌠doesnât have a role in the legal system,â Roche said, explaining that her duty concerned âpunishmentâ and that âall other things are secondary.â
Championâs parents took the stand before the sentencing and seemed to be pushing for Martin to serve prison time instead of the house arrest and community-service work that Martin hoped for. Championâs father said that he sympathized with Martinâs family, but that âtoday we've got to set an example that this has got to stop now.â
The hazing practice required that Champion make his way from the front of a school bus to the back, shirtless, while being pummeled by senior band members. Champion âdied of soft-tissue bleeding caused by the flurry of blows he absorbed,â the Sentinel explained.
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Nine other former band members were sentenced to community-service hours and probation for their involvement in Martinâs death.
Read more at the Orlando Sentinel.
