User blog comment:Alpha Wolf-87/Unbelievable Steath Kills/@comment-4648985-20111221003039

It's not considered a stealth kill, as regular power attacks do get a cutscene on occasion for their finishing blow. As for the other bandits not hearing you, if you are not in their line of sight, they have poor stealth detection skill, and/or they are not alerted to your presence, it is entirely possible. Albeit rare, it does happen, as some bandits, especially the low level ones, are dumb as bricks.