California Man Convicted of Murder for Killing Professional Surfer During Fight

SAN DIEGO – A San Diego jury convicted a man of murder for killing a professional surfer during a scuffle.

Seth Cravens was convicted Tuesday and could face life in prison when he is sentenced in January.

The 22-year-old Cravens said he acted in self-defense when he punched Emery Kauanui in May 2007.

The surfer hit his head when he fell down and was fatally injured outside his mother's home in the wealthy seaside community of La Jolla.

Prosecutors say the scuffle stemmed from a dispute that started earlier at a bar.

Four other people initially were charged with murder but pleaded guilty to lesser charges and were sentenced in September to between 90 and 249 days in jail.