 On 4 July 1984, Bowers entered a restaurant in Belize City where Francis Codd and Dora Codd were hosting a private party for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.According to testimony heard when the case later went to trial, Bowers was asked to leave and their son, Robert Codd, escorted him to the door.A struggle ensued outside between Bowers and Codd, and Bowers stabbed Codd several times.