A Dallas County Circuit Court jury has found a Selma man guilty of capital murder in the 2005 shooting deaths of Earnest Harrell and Phillipe D. Coleman.

Thurston Baynes was found guilty on three separate counts of capital murder for killing two or more people and intentional killing during a robbery. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole Wednesday.

Circuit Judge Jack Meigs was the presiding judge. Assistant district attorneys Vernetta Perkins and Jim Ransom prosecuted for the state.

“I’m very pleased with the verdict in this case. I believe it was the right verdict, and we will continue to prosecute and put away these people who are committing senseless violence in Selma,” Ransom said after the three-day trial. “This case was a long time coming to an end, but was the result of continued efforts by District Attorney Michael Jackson’s office in pursuing the guilty parties.”

Testimony during the trial revealed the murders were the result of a robbery that went bad, ending in violence.

Harrell, 56, and Coleman, 28, were found dead at Harrell’s residence at 1311 Duke St., Selma, Oct. 29, 2005, by Selma police officers called to the scene when someone reported shots fired shortly before midnight that Friday.

Testimony and court reports show the officers discovered the front door of the residence was broken, but unopened. One of the officers stated he could see someone’s feet and legs, but nobody responded when the officer called out.

After officers entered the house they found a victim slumped in a chair in the first room and a second victim lying on the floor in the next room. Neither victim showed signs of life, according to testimony.

Ransom said this is the second defendant convicted by the district attorney’s office in this incident.

Johnson Woods, 27, of 824 Small St., Selma, pleaded guilty in 2007 to conspiracy to commit murder. Woods is serving time at the Bibb County Correctional Facility. His release date is Nov. 13, 2036, according to records at the Alabama Department of Corrections.

A Dallas County grand jury issued a bill of indictment of capital murder for Baynes several days after Woods’ plea.