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Man, Woman Going On Trial For Deadly Party Game

JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) -- Two people go are going on trial Monday in Will County, on charges they played a role in the death of a local daredevil.

As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, Jimmy Mounts, 27, of Romeoville, and Tiffany Startz, 21, of Joliet, are charged with reckless conduct and battery in the death of John A. Powell, who died on Sept. 25 of last year.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports

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That day at a party in Crest Hill, Mounts started offering other guests $5 if they could take a punch from Startz.

Powell, who was 5-foot-8 and weighed 140 pounds, took Mounts' wager and stood before the 5-foot-5, 142-pound Startz, police said.

Witnesses told police Startz swung and hit Powell once in the face. He collected his money from Mounts and continued talking and interacting with others for a few minutes before he collapsed, police said.

He was rushed to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 9:47 p.m.

Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil said Powell died of a brain hemorrhage caused by blunt-force trauma. Medical reports indicate a vein in Powell's neck opened up when his head snapped back and led to the brain injury.

Defense attorneys had moved to drop the charges against Mounts and Startz earlier this year, but a judge declined their motion.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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