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Oasis strip club manager convicted in single-punch death of patron

Almost nine years after James Koons was left unconscious and bleeding in the parking lot of the Oasis Gentlemen's Club in Southwest Philadelphia, a jury found club manager John Pettit guilty Thursday of third-degree murder in Koons' death after a punch to the head.

Almost nine years after James Koons was left unconscious and bleeding in the parking lot of the Oasis Gentlemen's Club in Southwest Philadelphia, a jury found club manager John Pettit guilty Thursday of third-degree murder in Koons' death after a punch to the head.

The Common Pleas Court jury of six men and six women worked about two hours after getting the case late Wednesday before reaching a verdict.

Gasps burst from Koons' family in the packed courtroom as the forewoman said Pettit was guilty of third-degree murder, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment.

As the jurors were led from court, one juror looked at Koons' mother, Kathy Brady, and smiled.

"It's been such a long time," Brady said afterward. "I'm just so happy we finally got justice."

Next to Brady was Koons' wife, Lisa Kulp, with whom he had two children, Isabella, 10, and Jamie, 9.

Koons, 31, of Secane, drove a recycling truck, said his father, James Sr.

"We knew the law would prevail one day," said Koons, who thanked Assistant District Attorney Mark Levenberg, 12th District police, and detectives for their work and courtesy.

Koons' family has faithfully attended Pettit's court proceedings since he was arrested when Koons died on Nov. 2, 2009, two weeks after the confrontation at 6800 Essington Ave.

Pettit's first trial in 2012 ended with the jury hung on murder or involuntary manslaughter.

Two years later, Pettit unexpectedly pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and then spent until November in custody before he succeeded in withdrawing the guilty plea.

Pettit, 55, of Pennsauken, a heavily muscled man whose work uniform was gym clothes, not the tightly fitting business suit he wore to court, seemed to express no emotion at the verdict.

Defense attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr., however, rocked back in his chair, seemingly stunned.

Peruto argued that Koons' death was the result of a punch Pettit threw in self-defense as he and a group of bouncers tried to evict Koons and friend George Foreacre III, 41, for "disruptive behavior" on the afternoon of Oct. 16, 2009.

Judge Steven R. Geroff ordered Pettit immediately taken into custody pending sentencing on Aug. 25.

Levenberg declined to say what sentence he would seek. Third-degree murder carries a maximum state sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison.

Lawyer David S. Bahuriak, who worked with Peruto, said Pettit would appeal, adding, "I feel the verdict was based on emotion and not necessarily on the facts."

Peruto said, "It was impossible to overcome the video."

Security video from inside and outside Oasis showed Pettit sucker-punch Foreacre inside the bar and then eject him and Koons from the club.

As Koons lies on the ground outside the club's front door, Pettit is seen kicking him several times in the side.

The two men, who were intoxicated, remained in the Oasis parking lot, calling 911 and taunting Pettit and bouncers as they watched from the lobby.

But when Oasis owner Robert Laflar arrived in his Hummer SUV at 6:15 p.m., Pettit and his staff rushed out to join Laflar.

The video shows Laflar sucker-punch Foreacre to the ground while one bouncer holds Koons off in the background.

The group moves behind the Hummer and out of camera range. Foreacre emerges bruised and shirtless and staggers away. Koons is visible prone in the parking lot.

Of the five people originally charged in Koons' death and the assault on Foreacre, Pettit is the last to face trial.

Laflar, the Oasis owner, died of a drug overdose at 46 in January 2012. Three bouncers were acquitted in a nonjury trial before another judge in October 2012.

jslobodzian@phillynews.com

215-854-2985 @joeslobo

www.philly.com/crimeandpunishment