Akron U. student convicted in death of KSU student

By Ed Meyer

Akron Beacon Journal

RAVENNA

A Portage County jury has convicted Ronald Kelly of one count of murder and felonious assault in the beating death last November of Kent State University student Christopher Kernich.

The verdict was announced at the county courthouse late Friday after eight hours of deliberations over two days.

Kelly, 20, was found guilty under Ohio’s ‘‘felony murder’’ law, which requires a jury to decide that the defendant committed the killing as a proximate result of felonious assault.

He was acquitted of a second count of murder. Under Ohio law, that means the jury agreed that Kelly did not purposely kill Kernich during the Nov. 15 fight on East Main Street in Kent.

Kelly, who sat stoically next to defense attorney Gregory S. Robey as the verdicts were read, faces a prison sentence of 15 years to life.

‘‘I respect the jury’s verdict, but I’m disappointed,’’ Robey said after the decision was announced. ‘‘But I will also say that I will never give them [the prosecution] the gift of surrender. This fight will carry on. And you can underline never.’’

Robey said an appeal will be filed.

Portage County Common Pleas Judge John Enlow, who presided over Kelly’s trial, ordered a presentence investigation.

Kelly and two of his friends, Adrian Barker and Glen Jefferson Jr. — all students at the University of Akron — were leaving the Kent campus in Jefferson’s car after attending a fraternity party on the morning of the fight.

The fight began shortly after 2:20 a.m. amid chaos, according to both sides, when Kernich and three of his KSU friends were nearly hit by Jefferson’s car as he hurriedly pulled out of a parking lot.

Words were exchanged between the two groups of men, and the fight started moments later. Dozens of college students were on the street after partying that night, according to previous trial testimony.

Barker, prosecutors said, ran up to Kernich from behind and threw a punch — an overarm blow to the side of the head.

Kernich, who was 23, was unconscious when paramedics arrived at the scene. He died of massive head injuries six days later at Akron City Hospital.

Barker, 22, was found guilty of murder and felonious assault last month. After a trial that took nearly two weeks, his jury delivered the verdict in three hours.

Enlow scheduled Barker’s sentencing for Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. He also faces a prison sentence of 15 years to life.

Kernich’s family left the courtroom Friday, the first group to leave under an order by Enlow, without commenting on the Kelly verdict.

Earlier this week, however, John Kernich, the victim’s father, said, ‘‘We’re looking for truth, and we’re looking for justice,’’ Kernich said. Referring to the earlier murder conviction of Barker, he added, ‘‘So far, we only have 50 percent. We’re looking for 100 percent.”