Jurors convicted Peter L. John Tuesday of aiding and abetting second-degree murder in the death of a man on St. Paul's East Side.

John, 50, was tried in Ramsey County District Court in the death of Joseph M. Saros, 43. Saros was fatally kicked in March.

According to the criminal complaint, John and two other men were drinking vodka in the 700 block of E. 3rd Street late on March 10 when Saros arrived. One of the men told police that Saros told John and the other man that he had had sex with their mothers and was going to have sex with their sisters.

John assaulted Saros, the witness told police. Saros fell, apparently knocked out, and the other man joined the attack, the complaint said.

"They kept kicking him in the head … kicking him … beating the living [expletive] out of him," the witness told police.

The attack lasted a minute to a minute and a half, the complaint said. The witness told police that he fell asleep, and that when he woke up, he saw Saros lying on the floor with "blood everywhere."

Saros was pronounced dead at the scene about 1:25 a.m. on March 11. He suffered blunt-force trauma, two fractured ribs and fractured thyroid cartilage.

Police continue to investigate the identity and whereabouts of the other man.

CHAO XIONG