A California stand-up paddler could face up to seven years in prison for assaulting and injuring a surfer with his paddle, officials said Thursday. Various American media.

A year ago, San Diego local surfer Kevin Eslinger was surfing at Sunset Cliffs when a carbon fiber paddle hit him in the back of the head, causing injuries that resulted in brain damage.

The attacker, Paul Konen, said he was defending himself and that the surfer told him: “I'm going to kill you” and that's why he reacted that way.

The whole argument was about a wave and who had priority over it.

The surfer who was attacked decided to take the case to court, where this week the jury found Konen guilty of the assault, and he could face up to seven years behind bars.