Father Of PSU Frat Brother Who Died At Party 'Highly Offended' By Courtroom Behavior: Report

BELLEFONTE, PA — The father of the Penn State student who died from injuries sustained during a fraternity pledge event in February said he was "highly offended" by the behavior displayed by the accused during their preliminary hearing Monday, according to a report.

James Piazza, a Hunterdon County, New Jersey, resident, said "most" of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity brothers were laughing and hugging "as if this was just another fraternity get-together," according to a report by NJ.com

"We are highly offended by the insensitivity displayed given the severity of the crimes committed and ultimate outcome," Piazza said, according to the report.

The preliminary hearing for the Penn State fraternity brothers accused in the hazing death of 19-year-old Timothy Piazza was continued to a to-be-decided- upon date. The continuation came after nearly 12 hours of testimony and three hours of surveillance footage from the fraternity house on the night Piazza, a sophomore from New Jersey, fell during a bid acceptance night party.

Eight fraternity brothers are facing manslaughter charges in connection with Piazza's death. Ten other students are facing related charges of reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and providing alcohol to minors, among other charges.

Prosecutors allege Piazza was forced to drink excessively before falling and hurting himself. No one called for help until late the next morning, and Piazza died Feb. 4.

The Piazza family's laywer, Tom Kline, told the New York Times that the accused brothers treated the hearing as if it was a "fraternity reunion."

Reporters inside the courtroom say there was an unusual amount of shouting and conflict between prosecutors and the defense during the lengthy hearing. NBC reporter Gabe Gutierrez Tweeted: "I have covered many court cases, and I've never seen shouting in a courtroom like this."

Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said she was "shocked" by the decorum in the courtroom, according to the NJ.com report.

Reporters inside the Centre County Courthouse live tweeted the tense proceedings as the prosecution played the surveillance footage from the Beta Theta Pi fraternity party on Feb. 2, when Piazza sustained his fatal injury. Piazza's parents left the courtroom before the prosecution began airing the footage.

RELATED: 'The Courtroom Is Silent': Reactions As Video Of Fatal Penn State Frat Party Is Played

The footage, as outlined in the grand jury presentment, shows an inebriated Piazza fall down the stairs. He is then carried up, while unconscious, by a group of frat brothers who then proceed to "slam" him, slap him, pour water on him and even throw a shoe at him, according to accounts. State College Police Detective David Scicchitano testified in court that Piazza "looked like a corpse" the morning after the fall.

PennLive.com reporter Christian Alexandersen said via Twitter the fraternity brothers were "intensely" watching the video of Piazza writhe in pain on the floor in the hours after his fall.

Reporters also described the tension between the fraternity brothers and the grieving parents:

According to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Tim's father "glared" at Joseph Ems Jr., who is accused of throwing a shoe at Piazza and slapping him in the abdomen. "Ems kept looking straight ahead," the report said.

RELATED:

• Penn State Frat House Death: Fast Drinking, Slow Death, Frantic Coverup In Grand Jury Timeline
• Frat House Death At Penn State: A Who's Who Of The Accused
• 'They Killed Him': Family Of NJ Man Who Died At Frat Party Speaking Out
• Golf Outing To Honor Legacy Of NJ Man Who Died At Frat Party