SAN DIEGO -- A preliminary hearing continues for a third day Monday for five young men charged with murder and gang allegations in the beating death of a professional surfer outside his La Jolla home.

Seth Cravens, 22, Eric House, 21, Orlando Osuna, 23, Matthew Yanke, 21, and Henri Quinn-William Hendricks, 22, are charged in connection with the death of 24-year-old Emery Kauanui.

Authorities allege it was Cravens who delivered a sucker-punch to the jaw of Kauanui that caused him to fall back and hit his head last May 24. The victim died four days later at a hospital.

Investigators said the attack was precipitated by a drink-spilling incident at the La Jolla Brew House involving House, who was encouraged to fight Kauanui after the defendants allegedly followed the victim to his Draper Avenue home.

Prosecutors allege Osuna drove the other defendants to the fight scene about 1:30 a.m. and all were involved in kicking and beating Kauanui, a native of Hawaii and acclaimed surfer.

Deputy District Attorney Sophia Roach said the defendants were part of a loosely knit gang called the "Bird Rock Bandits." She told Judge John Einhorn that the group was involved in a series of violent incidents, dating back to 2004.

Many of the alleged victims did not immediately report the incidents to police and said they didn't want those involved to be prosecuted.

Attorneys for the defendants told the judge that their clients liked to party and sometimes got into fights but were not part of a gang. The attorneys also contend that none of their clients kicked or beat Kauanui after he was knocked to the ground.

At the end of the preliminary hearing, Einhorn will decide if enough evidence has been presented to order the defendants to stand trial. Each faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted.