Two More Defendants Sentenced In Fatal January 2012 Old City Sidewalk Attack
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The remaining two defendants in a fatal center city Philadelphia beating case learned their fates today and were sentenced to prison time after pleading guilty.
Kenneth Enriquez-Santiago was sentenced to 2-5 years in prison, and co-defendant Steven Ferguson, who delivered the fatal blow to Kevin Kless, has been sentenced to 5-10 years in prison. The defendants had no prior arrests or contacts with the law.
Kless was beaten to death during a confrontation near 4th and Chestnut Streets in Old City early last year (see related stories).
Kless was walking with his girlfriend and her friend just before 2:30 in the morning when a car with three men passed and words were exchanged -- over what still remains unclear.
Then the men attacked, each punching Kless. Authorities say one swing, the final blow, ruptured an artery, killing Kless.
Before imposing the agreed-upon sentences, which were part of a plea deal, the judge heard from the victim's family -- tearful, emotional, heartbreaking testimony of indescribable loss.
The victim's mother, Kendall Kless, told the court the loss of her son has left a hole in their hearts.
"There will be no more Kevin jokes, no ingenious Halloween costumes," she said. "We lost our youngest baby son, and the pain of that loss is indescribable.
A third defendant pleaded guilty earlier. He was also sentenced to 2-5 years in prison.