This content is protected Click on picture to enlarge. This content is protected Kenneth Blunt pleads no contest Article Tools This content is protected This content is protected function fbs_click() {u=location.href;t=document.title;window.open('http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+encodeURIComponent(u)+'&t='+encodeURIComponent(t),'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=626,height=436');return false;} This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected 1/29/2008 Last Update: 1/29/2008 2:18:00 PM Reading man gets 12 1/2 to 25 years in 2005 slaying of boxer This is a heavy price to pay, but not as heavy a price as Mr. Letterlough paid, Judge John A. Boccabella says. By Holly Herman Reading Eagle Reading, PA - Kenneth Blunt pleaded no contest Monday in Berks County Court to aggravated assault to avoid a third trial in the July 2005 slaying of professional boxer Julian L. Letterlough. Judge John A. Boccabella sentenced Blunt to 12 1/2 to 25 years in state prison in the July 8, 2005, fatal shooting of Letterlough, 35, died of a gunshot wound to the head, officials said. Blunt, 26, of the 1100 block of Meade Street declined comment. This is a heavy price to pay, but not as heavy a price as Mr. Letterlough paid, Boccabella said. The plea was based on an agreement between Assistant District Attorneys Kevin F. Howard and Jonathan H. Kurland and Blunts lawyer, Robert J. Kirwan II of Reading. A no-contest plea means Blunt is not admitting guilt but is not contesting that prosecutors could have proved the aggravated assault charge if the case had gone to trial. As a result of the plea, the prosecution dismissed charges of first- and third-degree murder. Juries in two previous trials deadlocked on charges of first- and third-degree murder and aggravated assault. Jury selection in a third trial was to begin Monday. In the first trial, the jury on Sept. 25, 2006, convicted Blunt of attempted murder for shooting at Letterloughs friend, Donald F. Moore Jr., now 46, of Reading, and of aggravated assault for pointing a gun at Reading police Officer Roger Lehman. In the second trial, the jury deadlocked Feb. 14, again on first- and third-degree murder charges. Letterloughs relatives attended the sentencing, but declined comment. Letterlough, known as Mr. K.O., had a record of 21-5-3, including 20 knockouts. He fought in the light-heavyweight class, which is up to 175 pounds. This content is protected This content is protected Top 10 Articles of the Day 1. This content is protected 2. This content is protected 3. This content is protected 4. This content is protected 5. This content is protected 6. This content is protected 7. This content is protected 8. This content is protected 9. This content is protected 10. This content is protected No direct evidence was presented in the two previous trials to prove that the fatal bullet found in Letterloughs head was fired from Blunts 40-caliber handgun. However, the evidence did show that eight shell casings found at the scene were fired from Blunts weapon. Eighteen shots were fired from at least four weapons, witnesses testified. They include shots fired from a .40-caliber handgun, a .32-caliber revolver found at the scene and Lehmans 9 mm handgun. Police testified they found Letterloughs body and saw Blunt shooting at Moore in the 1100 block of Cotton Street. Lehman chased Blunt for several blocks and arrested Blunt in the 500 block of Wunder Street. Lehman shot Blunt in a shoulder and a leg during the chase. In an unrelated case, Blunt pleaded guilty to participating in a drug organization in Reading in January and February 2005. As part of the plea agreement, the judge sentenced Blunt to 51 months to 10 years in state prison. That sentence will run the same time as the sentence in the Letterlough case. Contact reporter Holly Herman at 610-478-6291 or This content is protected .
