Two more get prison terms for beating death outside St. Paul bar

Two more men were sent to prison Tuesday for their part in the beating death of 20-year-old Tai Yang outside the Moonlight Magic bar in St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood on May 10, 2009.

Chue Yang, 24, and Keng Xiong, 25, both of St. Paul, both pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree manslaughter.

Ramsey County District Judge Paulette Flynn followed their plea agreements and sentenced Yang to seven years and two months, and Xiong to six years and two months. They will have to serve at least two-thirds of that time in prison before they are eligible for release. Yang was given credit for 100 days he has spent in custody, Xiong for 55 days.

The victim's sister, Maysee Yang, spoke at Yang's hearing but told the judge that she meant her words for both men.

"Tai Yang was a lot of things to a lot of people," she said. "To me, he was my baby brother, a brother I helped raise and loved like my own son."

She noted that he was killed on Mother's Day and said that day "will haunt me for the rest of my years."

Her brother "loved, laughed and dreamed like everybody else," she said. "I love him so dearly and wish for him to be at peace knowing the judicial system did not fail him."

Xiong had nothing to say at his hearing.

Two other defendants, Nou Chang and Thai Chang, were sentenced in June. The last, Michelle Vue, pleaded guilty Aug. 2 and will be sentenced Oct. 12.

Earlier this month, the St. Paul City Council revoked the license of Moonlight Magic, which is at Thomas and Western avenues.