On August 22, 2009, Rhaburn, a resident of Taylor's Alley was stabbed once to the neck, after he had an altercation with Beaton at the corner of Orange Street and Euphrates Avenue.

Beaton had given a caution statement to police in which he admitted that he went to buy tacos from a vendor on those two streets, and that's when he saw Rhaburn who eventually started to threaten him for no apparent reason.

Beaton told police that he was trying to ignore Rhaburn and leave the area, but Rhaburn, who was reportedly drunk, started to advance upon him with beer bottle in head.

According to Beaton, Rhaburn tried to hit him in the back of the head with the bottle, and that's when he pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the neck.

However, in his defense, he gave a slightly different account in a dock statement where he said that the knife wasn't in his possession. He said that he pulled it off the tacos stand, and then he attacked Rhaburn with it.

In his direction to the jury, Justice Lucas explained to the jury that it is evident that Beaton may have lost control, and that he should be found guilty of the alternative charge of manslaughter.

Also in his sum up, he also put it to the jury that if they believe that Beaton acted out of fear and self-defense, they should find him not guilty. Beaton's clean record was also up for consideration of his guilt.

After a deliberation of almost 4 hours, the jury of seven men and five women returned with 2 unanimous verdicts of not guilty on the count of murder and manslaughter.

As a result, Beaton walked out of court a free man after being on remand since August 2009.