The conflict between the red shirts and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his ex-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban played out on the streets long before it was brought before the courts, where today no prospect of a resolution appears in sight.
Suthep: Left politics for monkhood
On the one side, Democrat Party leader Mr Abhisit and the party's former secretary-general, Mr Suthep, now ordained as a monk, have insisted the "men in black" precipitated the deadly 2010 political violence. They view the men in black as a secret fighting force among the red shirt protesters.
On the other side, red shirts deny the men in black ever existed and allege that military orders from Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep were tantamount to murder after scores were killed in a crackdown.
At the time, the red shirt protesters demanded Mr Abhisit step down and hold a fresh election, citing his undemocratic rise to power with the heavy backing of the military.
Mr Abhisit refused to budge. On April 10, 2010, the army clashed with protesters at the Khok Wua intersection as it tried in vain to retake the protest site there. Five soldiers, including Gen Romklao Thuwatham (then a colonel) were killed by M67 grenades.
On May 19, the Abhisit government ordered the military to take back the Ratchaprasong intersection. The clash that ensued resulted in more than 90 people being killed and hundreds injured.
Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep were subsequently charged with murder and attempted murder. The charges were filed by relatives of the dead red shirts under the Criminal Code in connection with the crackdowns.
Abhisit: Denies intent to harm
The men have maintained their innocence, insisting they authorised troops to descend on the protesters in their capacities as prime minister and deputy prime minister. They did not act as private individuals and had no personal intention to cause anyone any harm.
Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep admitted snipers were among the soldiers, saying they were sent to protect the troops from the armed men in black who were fighting on the side of the red shirts. The red shirts, however, deny any military-grade fighting force.
The two men were indicted after the July 2011 election swept the Yingluck Shinawatra government to office with red shirt backing.