Man Gets Life for Deadly Assault on Two Tourists
A 21-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without chance of parole for taking part in the murder of a German tourist at a scenic mountain overlook in 1994.
Kamchan “Brett” Ketsouvannasane of Banning also received a six-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon on Klaus Pfleger.
Pfleger was shot in the face and seriously injured during the robbery along a highway in the San Jacinto Mountains.
His wife, Gisela Pfleger, 64, was shot to death.
Another defendant, Thongxay Nilakout, 19, has been convicted as the shooter. Under California law, anyone who helps plan or carry out a murder can be convicted.
Nilakout was scheduled for sentencing March 21, but the court was awaiting a report from the California Youth Authority, Deputy District Atty. Richard Bentley said. Nilakout was tried as an adult, although he was a minor at the time of the murder. The Youth Authority must therefore make recommendations on his sentencing.
A third defendant, Xou Yang, 20, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in December to 25 years to life for driving the robbers to the crime.
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