At a house party in Joliet, aspiring rapper John “Fatboy” Powell died shortly after agreeing to be punched in the face by Tiffany Startz. According to ABC News, Powell was performing at a house party with his band Krazy Killaz when he accepted a $5 bet to be punched in the face by a woman.
ABC News reports that a man was offering anyone at the party $5 to be punched by the 142-pound Startz. After Powell accepted the bet and was punched, he passed out and died. An autopsy revealed that Powell died from a brain hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma.
Tiffany Startz, who has no formal training in martial arts or other combat sports, now stands trial for battery and reckless conduct.
The attorney representing Startz sought to dismiss the charges claiming that no crime was committed as Powell accepted to be punched and called his death "a stupid party stunt that went terribly wrong" reports ABC News. However, the judge rejected the motion to dismiss.
This case is unusual because in a battery charge, the battery is usually not consensual. In addition, a criminal battery offense usually requires that the actor intend to cause harm.
Tiffany Startz will likely defend herself by claiming that John Powell consented to the punch by accepting the $5 bet. In addition, Startz may also want to show that there was no criminal intent to injure or kill Powell as she was merely performing a party bet.
People do stupid things at house parties, and accepting $5 bets to be punched in the face is just one good example. Whether Startz should be convicted of a crime for killing rapper John Powell over a stupid party bet will be up to a judge and jury.
Related Resources:
- Find a Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Party-game punch case proceeds after judge rejects motion to dismiss (Tribune)
- Elements of a Battery (FindLaw)
- When Assault Becomes Battery (FindLaw's Chicago Criminal Law Blog)
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