YULEE, Fla. – A jury found James Turnage guilty in the shooting death of a Yulee man about two and a half years ago.
If convicted, James Turnage Jr. faces life in prison in the killing of 51-year-old Kirk Westfall.
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All testimony was wrapped up in the trial Thursday afternoon. Westfall's family was called as rebuttal witnesses before closing arguments. They say it's been a long wait for justice.
The last time Westfall's family saw him was when he was leaving his son's high school football game.
Later his son found his father's blood inside his home and his car gone. Investigators started looking at Turnage, the man Westfall (pictured, below) had been allowing to stay on his property.
"He just was trying to help somebody out," Westfall's sister, Tina Burrows, said. "It's just like in his nature to do that."
Police said that in October 2010, Turnage killed Westfall in his Yulee home, stole his car, and dumped his body in South Carolina.
"That's the bullet that we found within the skull," forensic pathologist Dr. Janice Ross said during the trial Tuesday.
Turnage's trial began Monday and prosecutors had their chance to present evidence and witnesses, which they say proves this was premeditated murder.
The defense had its chance Wednesday, with Turnage telling his story of what he calls self-defense.
Westfall's family members said they wanted the trial to be over so they can try to heal.
"Hoping that justice will be done and that the district attorney will do his job," Westfall's brother, Karl Westfall, said. "To make sure everything is taken care of and so the jury will see what the truth is."