Sports

Man Sentenced For Murder Of Former Basketball Star

(WCCO) A man who admitted to beating and killing a former pro basketball player was sentenced Monday. Last month, 30-year-old Fredquinzo King admitted he took part in the planning and fatal beating of Howard Porter in May of 2007.

King pleaded guilty to kidnapping and second degree murder.

WCCO's Sue Turner said he didn't show emotion at the sentencing and had nothing to say when the judge asked him if he'd like to speak.

The judge sentenced him to 45 years, 30 of which will be spent in prison. For the other 15, he'll be on supervised release.

During the sentencing, three people spoke on behalf of Porter. His fiancé said Porter would have wanted his family to show compassion and forgive his killers. Theresa Neal said she's still haunted by Porter's final moments.

Porter was a St. Paul probation officer. He was lured to a home in St. Paul by Tonya Washington. When he got there, he was beaten by King and another man named Rashad Raleigh. They then dumped him in a North Minneapolis alley.

Mike Furnstahl, the prosecuting attorney, said he was glad King didn't put everyone through a trial.

"It saved the family a lot of grief from having to go through the trial. He got, I think, a fairly stiff sentence. I think we're all satisfied," he said.

Raleigh was sentenced to life in prison without parole and Washington will be sentenced Monday afternoon.

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