Murder conviction upheld in ‘Bird Rock Bandit’ case The state Supreme Court upheld the murder conviction Seth?Cravens, a La Jolla High School graduate convicted of the 2007 murder of La Jolla surfer Emery Kauanui, Jr., 24. Cravens was convicted in 2008 of second-degree murder after he dealt a blow to Kauanui that resulted in a brain injury during a street fight. In 2010, his conviction was reduced to voluntary manslaughter by an appellate court, which determined Cravens could not have known the punch he dealt to Kauanui would result in death. The Supreme Court overturned that ruling. In the majority opinion, Associate Justice Marvin R. Baxter wrote, “The Court of Appeals not only failed to acknowledge that the fatal blow here was a sucker punch (or that it was inflicted with enough force to knock Kauanui unconscious before he even hit the pavement), but failed as well to grapple with the evidence tending to show [Cravens’] pattern of using sucker punches to his advantage.” Cravens was one of five defendents known as the “Bird Rock Bandits.” On May 24, 2007, they drove to Kauanui’s mother’s home on Draper Avenue following a bar altercation at the La Jolla Brew House. Cravens punched Kauanui, who fell and struck his head on the pavement. He died four days later in a hospital. Cravens, now 26, would have had his sentence reduced to 16 years under the voluntary manslaughter charge. He will serve out his full sentence of 20 years to life as a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling. Calling all kindergartners Bird Rock Elementary School will host its informational meeting and school tour for parents of incoming kindergartners and new students on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 9:30 a.m. in the school auditorium, 5371 La Jolla Hermosa Avenue. Parents will tour the campus, learn about the school and its programs, meet the teachers and principal and have questions answered by the principal, parents and staff. The event is geared for adults only. For more information, visit www.sandi.net/birdrock. LJCD coach faces sexual abuse charges A fencing coach at La Jolla Country Day school is facing charges of sexual abuse related to an inappropriate relationship with a student. Vijay Prasad, 50, will be arraigned today, Feb. 2, on 13 felony charges ranging from a lewd act upon a child 14 or 15 years of age to sodomy of a person under 16 by a person over 21 years of age. He faces 11 years in state prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Prasad operated an after-school fencing program at the school. Prasad’s bail is set at $200,000. He was supposed to be arraigned Jan. 31, but Judge David Szumowski granted a defense request to delay the hearing. Prosecutors declined to discuss further details in the case.