On September 12th, Justice Lucas found him guilty in a trial without jury of the murders of Frank James and Robert Young.

At today's mitigation hearing, Crown Counsel Portia Ferguson read the statement of the common-law wife of Frank James. She said that he was a hardworking man, and a good husband. She said that her health has deteriorated since her loss. The prosecutor also read the statement of Robert Young's sister, who said that his death has severely affected her and her family, and they are now robbed of their peace of mind.

For his plea, Thurton and his attorney, Anthony Sylvestre, called 2 character witnesses who told the court that Thurton was not exactly a bad person. On his own behalf, Thurton expressed remorse for what he did, and he begged the judge for leniency, so that he has an opportunity to return to society after he spent his time in jail. Sylvestre, his attorney, asked the court to consider that he was 19 years-old when he killed the two victims. Sylvestre also pointed out that in the Gregory August Appeal, the Caribbean Court of Justice sentenced him to 30 years for murder, with the eligibility for parole. Sylvestre asked the judge to consider a similar approach, and give him fixed prison sentence, instead of life imprisonment.