New court dates set for six University of Missouri hazing suspects
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been changed to correct the names of the men appearing in court and a hearing date.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Court hearings were held Thursday for six of the men charged in connection with the University of Missouri Phi Gamma Delta hazing case.
The hazing incident left fraternity pledge Pledge Danny Santulli unable to walk, see or communicate.
One of the six men, Harrison Reichman, entered a not guilty plea Tuesday and had his arraignment rescheduled from later in September to Thursday.
There are 12 men charged in the hazing incident. The judge scheduled six preliminary hearings Thursday; the other six men charged had hearings set earlier.
Harrison Reichman, Samuel Gandhi, Samuel Morrison, Samuel Lane, Jack O'Neill and Blake Morsovillo were given preliminary hearing dates. Those hearings will allow a judge to consider if there's enough probable cause to move the case to trial. The dates are spread across September, October and November. These men have not yet entered any plea, according to online court records.
The suspects were not in the courtroom. Instead, their lawyers made appearances for them.
All six men are charged with hazing, resulting in life endangerment. They are accused of pressuring Santulli to drink hard liquor until he became unresponsive.
Santulli is now living with his family in Minnesota and requires around-the-clock care.
Thomas Shultz, another defendant in the hazing investigation, had a court hearing on Monday. Shultz is charged with felony hazing, felony evidence tampering and giving alcohol to a minor. He has another hearing at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 26.