By Madina Toure
Five more former Baruch College Pi Delta Psi fraternity brothers were arraigned on murder and other related charges last week in connection with the 2013 hazing death of Michael Deng, a 19-year-old freshman from Oakland Gardens.
Deng died on Dec. 9, 2013, a day after he was blindfolded, forced to carry a heavy backpack across the frozen ground and tackled as part of the Asian fraternity’s “glass ceiling” hazing ritual in Pennsylvania, according to the Pocono Mountain Regional Police.
He was knocked unconscious and the authorities said that there was a 90-minute delay before fraternity members sought medical assistance.
The five members—Charles Lai, Kenny Kwan, Raymond Lam, Daniel Li and Sheldon Wong—appeared before Magisterial District Judge Richard S. Claypool in Pocono Pines, Pa. Oct. 22, according to the Magisterial District Court. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Nov. 5.
They are the last of the 36 fraternity members charged in connection with Deng’s death to appear in court.
The five members were charged with murder, aggravated assault, hindering prosecution, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, hazing and conspiracy, according to the court.
Lai and Kwan were also charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, the court said.
The court said a total of 36 fraternity members and the fraternity itself face charges including assault, criminal conspiracy and homicide, but not all of them were charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Andy Meng, younger brother of U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and head of the fraternity, allegedly instructed members to hide items bearing the Pi Delta Psi name, get rid of any evidence of hazing and change Deng’s clothing, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police said..
Meng was charged with hindering apprehension, hazing and criminal conspiracy, according to the court.
Todd Greenberg, a lawyer representing Lam, said his client is pleading not guilty and posted his $500,000 bail.
“We entered a plea of not guilty and we adamantly deny the charges that he is guilty of murder in the third degree,” Greenberg said.
Lai is also entering a not guilty plea, according to James Swetz, his lawyer.
Swetz said that Lai’s bail was set at $500,000 and that his bail modification hearing has been scheduled.
He also noted that the controlled substance charge involves a small amount of marijuana.
“We intend a vigorous defense,” Swetz said. “This case is a tragedy. However, the facts do not support a murder charge. Murder requires malice and a particular state of mind on the part of the actor.”
Wong posted $500,000 bail and Li posted $150,000 bail, but it is not yet known whether Kwan posted his $500,000 bail, the court said.
Robert Saurman, the attorney representing Kwan, and Wieslaw Niemoczynski, the lawyer representing the fraternity, could not be reached for comment.
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtour
