Penn State Students Accused In Frat House Death Back In Court Monday

Sixteen Penn State students accused in a fraternity hazing death of a pledge are back in court Monday. The continuation of the hearing is expected to last through Tuesday, according to information from the Centre County District Attorney.

The hearing began last month, and included three hours of footage from inside the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house the night of Feb. 2 and early morning of Feb. 3, when 19-year-old Tim Piazza got dangerously intoxicated and took a series of life-threatening spills.

Eighteen fraternity brothers are charged in connection with the New Jersey native's death. Two waived their hearing.

During the first part of the hearing, State College Police Detective David Scicchitano was on the witness stand for nearly 10 hours. Prosecutors played several hours of surveillance footage from the Beta Theta Pi fraternity party on Feb. 2, the night of Piazza's fatal injury.

Piazza's parents, Jim and Evelyn of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, left the courtroom before the prosecution began airing the footage, narrated by Scicchitano.

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 the New Jersey native died Feb. 4.

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 of the footage.

Scicchitano testified in court that Piazza "looked like a corpse" the morning after the fall.

Gabe Gutierrez, an NBC News correspondent, said via Twitter that the courtroom was silent as prosecutors played video of Piazza dying. "It really is difficult to watch."

The tension between the fraternity brothers and the grieving parents was palpable back in June.

According to the Inquirer report, Tim's father, Jim, "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.

The footage was collected by 12 cameras positioned throughout the house, the Inquirer reported.

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