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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Kauanui jury undecided on murder count

Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — Jurors have ended a fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial of a man accused of fatally beating a professional surfer from Hawai'i.

Jurors said yesterday they were deadlocked 11-1 on whether to convict Seth Cravens of murdering Emery Kauanui of Kaua'i. If he is acquitted, the jury may consider lesser offenses of voluntary and involuntary man-slaughter.

It was unclear which way the deadlock went. Superior Court Judge John S. Einhorn ordered jurors to return today after sending a note outlining his instructions on what prosecutors needed to prove for a murder conviction.

The jury foreman told the judge the panel reached unanimous verdicts on 11 less-serious counts, including assault and battery. The judge said those verdicts would be read today.