TIFTON — The trial for two men charged in the 2014 death of William Bernard “Nard” Thomas got underway Tuesday.

DeAnthony Raphael Davenport and Austin Jermaine McIntyre were charged in 2014 with malice murder, felony murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. They are standing trial for those charges.

Thomas, 19, was shot on Aug. 22, 2014 while standing in his yard in the 3100 block of Hillcrest Circle in Tift County. He was pronounced dead later at Tift Regional Medical Center.

In its opening argument, the prosecution told the jury that Davenport and McIntyre planned an armed robbery targeting Thomas and shot and killed him during the crime.

Davenport’s attorney said that there was a business relationship between his client and Thomas, who was known to sell drugs and carry a lot of cash on him. He said he thought the evidence would show a different explanation of events.

McIntyre’s attorney argued that he felt the evidence would show that his client didn’t shoot anyone, and that he hoped the jury would find McIntyre not guilty.