The head athletic trainer for Penn State and house advisor for Beta Theta Pi appeared in court for the first time Wednesday since the tragic death of Timothy Piazza, after pledge initiation last winter.
Tim Bream lived in the Beta Theta Pi house and was in his room the night Piazza and other pledges were encouraged to drink massive amounts of alcohol.
Throughout the entire preliminary hearing, the defense says Bream played a vital role in the state of mind of the defendants the night before and morning of Piazza’s fatal fall.
The defense says given Bream’s age and position in the house, the brothers viewed him as a role model and were anxious to hear what he had to say as they now align themselves with grief for their fallen pledge and his family.
Bream testified that he was only aware that the fraternity was going to apply for a social permit and did not know what the rush event would entail. He stated, “no way would I give permission to have an alcohol gauntlet, nor did I know about it.”
Bream also said he never had alcohol and spoke out against the risks.
The defense questioned Bream’s liability in the events leading up to Piazza’s death but District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller says that he can’t be liable if he was in his room the entire time.
“Well essentially he’s taking the position he’s deaf, dumb and blind as to what’s going on inside of the house. In terms of charges, that’s up to the prosecutors to make that decision…but we believe it was helpful to our overall case,” Leonard Ambrose, Sala’s Defense Attorney, said.
When closing arguments begun, Piazza’s parents leaned forward in their seats with shock across their face when an attorney said there was a lack of evidence and that the court still did not know what caused their son’s fatal fall.
Court resumes Thursday.