James and Young were shot and killed in 2012 at a dock yard on North Front Street. The main witness for the Crown was Kurt Pech, who lived at the dock yard. He testified that James and Young were cleaning fish when Eric Martinez, aka "Junior H" arrived with a firearm in his hand - accompanied by Thurton. He said Martinez put James and Young to kneel down and he asked them about a stolen bicycle. Pech says he went to lock up in his house when he saw Thurton take the gun from Martinez. He then heard several gunshots and saw both men dead.

Thurton testified and said that he was at his house on Frederick Street at the time of the incident. His sister, Alicia Rancharan testified and corroborated his alibi testimony. But in his ruling Justice Lucas said that he did not believe either of them. Another man, Jasper Brannon, was charged jointly with Thurton. But he was acquitted on a no case submission that was upheld by Justice Lucas. Thurton was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvestre while the Crown was represented by Senior Crown Counsel Shanice Lovell. It was a trial without a jury.