La Jolla resident Seth Cravens, 22, has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of surfer Emery Kauanui in May of 2007.
According to authorities, Cravens punched Kauanui in the head during a fight in a residential neighborhood in May of 2007 after Cravens and several friends had a run-in with Kauanui at a neighborhood bar earlier in the evening. Kauanui hit his head on the pavement following the punch and was hospitalized, dying less than a week later at a San Diego hospital.
Cravens was convicted on the jury's sixth day of deliberations. The panel had indicated Monday it was deadlocked 11-1, but the stalemate was broken after several more hours of talks.
Cravens was also convicted of four counts of assault, and one count each of battery and making a criminal threat in connection with violent incidents dating back to 2005 that were unrelated to Kauanui's May 24, 2007, death. Jurors acquitted Cravens of two counts of assault and one count of battery.
Cravens is looking at a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison when sentenced on Jan. 12.
Three other males involved in the altercation pleaded guilty to lesser charges resulting from Kauanui's death and were sentenced to time in local custody.
The on-going controversy about whether or not to relocate the harbor seals from La Jolla's Children's Pool beach continued Tuesday as a judge took under submission a decision on whether San Diego should be immediately ordered to remove them.
Last month, Superior Court Judge Yuri Hoffman denied San Diego's request for extended time to comply with a 2005 ruling by Judge William Pate, who ordered the city to restore the area to its "pre-seal" condition within six months by removing sand buildup and cleaning up the water. Last month, Hoffman ordered the city to find out what permits are needed to comply with the order to start dredging.
In court on Tuesday, City Attorney Michael Aguirre informed Hoffman that Pate's 2005 ruling did not "expressly provide" for the removal of the seals from the Children's Pool area. Aguirre said that if the judge ordered the city to remove the seals right away, San Diego would have to have someone on location 24 hours a day to "shoo the seals away." Aguirre urged Hoffman to allow the city get all of its permits in place prior to moving the seals.
A 1931 state law granted the Children's Pool from the state to the city, provided it be used as a "bathing pool for children."
Another hearing on the seals is slated for Oct. 24.
A civil lawsuit was filed against five men Tuesday in San Diego by the mother of a pro surfer who allegedly died as a result of an altercation he had with the men back in May of 2007.
The mother of Emery Kauanui filed the wrongful death suit, alleging that Seth Cravens, Orlando Osuna, Matthew Yanke, Eric House, Henri Hendricks, plus the men's parents, are responsible for Kauanui's death.
Attorneys for Cindy Kauanui filing the suit allege that the parents failed to act on signals that their children had turned to violence.
The civil suit also names Barkandbrew Inc., the company that owns the La Jolla Brewhouse. Kauanui and House reportedly got into an argument there hours before the beating. The suit alleges that the Brewhouse provided alcohol to the young men even though they were drunk at the time.
The defendants allegedly went to Kauanui's mother's home later that night and confronted Kauanui. An altercation took place outside, with Kauanui suffering grave injuries. He died four days later at a local hospital.
Four of the five defendants accepted plea deals for their reported roles in the fight. The fifth, Seth Cravens, will go on trial later this year on murder and other charges stemming for the incident.
La Jolla resident Seth Cravens, 22, has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of surfer Emery Kauanui in May of 2007.
