Convicted murderer Courtney Courtmentez Thornton was denied his motion for a new trial earlier this month by Newton County Superior Court Judge Eugene Benton.

Thornton was charged in 2008 with the shooting death of 39-year-old Dennis Rodgers. He went to trial in the summer of 2009 and was found guilty of murder, armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of firearm by convicted felon.

Thornton's trial hinged largely on the testimony of the state's star witness Edwin Wynn who was in the car with Thornton and the victim at the time of the shooting. The three men were involved in a drug deal at the time when Wynn testified that Thornton turned the gun on them with no provocation. Rogers was shot in the back of the head and after a scuffle in the car, Wynn was able to escape and run to a parking lot where he found a Newton County Sheriff deputy.

Thornton's request was denied by the judge on Nov. 2.