Allentown brothers, Kenneth and Terry Kline, were acquitted late Monday of third degree murder. It was the most serious charge they faced in the beating death of Kutztown University student Kyle Quinn.
The brothers were found guilty of the less serious charge, conspiracy to commit murder, according to WFMZ.com.
Terry Kline was also convicted of aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
During closing arguments earlier in the day, attorneys for the Kline brothers urged the jury not to be swayed by the emotion of the case.
The courtroom was packed with friends and family members of the suspects and the victim, Kyle Quinn.
Quinn was on his way home from a bar in the early hours of the morning, returning to his brother's apartment, when he was beaten to death September 7, 2007. The Kline brothers and a third suspect, Timothy Gearhart were charged in the case.
Gearhart, 24, previously pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy. He admitted that he hit Quinn in the head with a wooden table leg. Gearhart was sentenced in August to a minimum of 20, maximum of 40 years in prison.
Berks County Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Kurland said Monday in his closing argument that Gearhart and the Kline brothers left a bar looking for someone to beat up, so all three share responsibility for Quinn's death.
Update: Kyle Quinn's parents, Leo and Denise Quinn of Warminster, Bucks County, thanked Assistant DA's Kurland and James Goldsmith and police for what they called excellent work.
"We are partially relieved," Quinn's mother said as she was leaving the courthouse. "It will not change that Kyle is gone." Quinn's family reserved further comment until after sentencing, which has been scheduled in December, according to LehighValleyLive.com.
Quinn's killing was Kutztown's first homicide since 1982 and only the third since 1968.
