'Grotesque actions' in Penn State fraternity hazing death

Image copyrightABC

Image captionFraternity members waited 12 hours before calling police to help Timothy Piazza (C)

The lawyer for the family of a student who died after falling down stairs during a fraternity initiation has called the group's actions "grotesque".

Timothy Piazza, 19, died in February after he became drunk during a "pledge" event for a fraternity, which is a social club for male students.

Mr Piazza, who was left unconscious for hours, suffered internal injuries before he died in hospital.

Prosecutors charged 18 students at Penn State University over his death.

The charges came after months of a grand jury investigation, which included video from surveillance cameras, testimony and phone records from Mr Piazza's final hours inside the fraternity house.

The report concluded that there was an attempt to conceal evidence of hazing - the initiation ceremony - and underage drinking after Mr Piazza was in hospital.