Beating Death of California Surfer Nets Defendants Jail Terms of Less Than Year

[WriteDown]

Source: AP

SAN DIEGO — Four former high school friends were sentenced to between 90 and 349 days in jail Friday for their roles in the fatal beating of professional surfer Emery Kauanui, sentences far shorter than prosecutors had sought.

Superior Court Judge John S. Einhorn said he considered the defendants' past clean records and lack of evidence that any of them delivered the fatal blow, even as he chastised them for spreading fear in the upscale seaside community of La Jolla with alcohol-tinged fights.

"You don't have to be a criminal street gang to be a bunch of bullies that together think they're stronger, tougher, smarter, and can get away with murder," the judge said at the sentencing for all but one defendant in the case.

Seth Cravens, alleged to be the ringleader, has pleaded not guilty to murder and faces trial Oct. 14.....

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,417861,00.html

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I'd think this was a joke if it wasn't so sad.

[Tektonik]

1. BEfore I open the link I'm guessing the surfer was gay or dark skinned

[Mz Pip]

2. Hawaiian

That exotic foreign place that Obama is from. Hawaii. Our 50th State.

Yeah, he probably did look 'different.'

[WriteDown]

3. Looks like at least one of the....

assailants was also Hawaiian. I doubt that is what this is about. Just a gang of thugs looking for fight. Happens to every color. Gangs like to use big odds to make themselves look big and bad.

[DRoseDARs]

6. Looking at the pics of this surfer, he just looks like he has a tan. His mom Cindy is white too.

I agree, this almost certainly wasn't race-related. Poor guy, had a future in the sport and then gets murdered for absolutely nothing. :thumbsdown:

[Tektonik]

4. Not saying that race had anything do with this, but

race and/or sexuality just so often ends up being involved in such incidents.

[DCKit]

5. 1 1/2 months- < 1 year for murder. Unfuckingbelieveable under any circumstances. n/t

[Occulus]

10. Meanwhile, pot users.... n/t

[ManiacJoe]

7. According to the article, it was mutual combat.

Stupid is as stupid does.

Still, the sentences are way too light. The voters might want to suggest that the judge think a bit more about his re-election, assuming the judges there are repeatedly elected to office.

[EFerrari]

8. Four against one is not mutual, is it?

[Bob Dobbs]

9. Localism.

It's a big problem in the Cali surf scene.

People get assholish protecting "their" break.

Violence is common.

[MicaelS]

11. I agree with you

I bet these punks didn't like some "foreigner" surfing "their" beach.

[kevinmc]

12. Spoiled-Rich Young Republicans .... should be in prison for a long time. n/t

[Popol Vuh]

13. WTF?

:wtf:

Superior Court Judge John S. Einhorn said he considered the defendants' past clean records and lack of evidence that any of them delivered the fatal blow

I might not be a lawyer, but, isn't it the fact that they all participated? And isn't it the fact that if you take part before its after the fact you are an accessory before the fact? And isn't it the fact that being an accessory before the fact makes you guilty of conspiracy, and in this case conspiracy to murder? And isn't if the fact that a person guilty of conspiracy to murder will get the same sentence as to whoever is the actual murderer is?


I can't see how justice was served in this case. What a shame.