Defense attorneys in the Andrew Coffey hazing case have asked the court to drop charges against their clients. Even after a judge granted the defense’s request for more specific charges, one attorney says the prosecution still can’t say exactly what his client did to cause Coffey’s death.
Brian Tannebaum, who represents Pi Kappa Phi chapter president Anthony Petagine, has filed three motions since last Friday. One asks the judge to throw out the revised charges, another to dismiss a new misdemeanor charge introduced with the revisions. A third motion looks to block any evidence the state tries to bring from before the night of the party showing other alleged crimes or wrongdoings by Petagine. Alternatively, it asks to hold a hearing that would require the state to prove its relevance to the case.
Lawyers for the other three men preparing for the June trial are following suit. Attorney Don Pumphrey, who represents defendant Luke Kluttz, filed to adopt Tannebaum’s motion for his client. Joshua Brian, representing Anthony Oppenheimer, filed his own motion to dismiss the misdemeanor charge.
State Attorney Jack Campbell did not immediately return a call requesting comment.
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