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Ronnie Lee Kimble 

                                                  

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Charles Allen Dunn, Witness for the Defendant


MR. HATFIELD: Ready for the next witness?

THE COURT: Yes, sir.

MR. HATFIELD: Charles Dunn, please.

CHARLES ALLEN DUNN, being first duly sworn, testified as follows during DIRECT EXAMINATION by MR. HATFIELD:

Q    Will you state your name, please, sir.

A    Charles Allen Dunn.

Q    You have to kind of speak up in this big room.

A    Charles Allen Dunn.

Q    And how old are you, sir?

A    26.

Q    Where do you work?

A    Perdue-Burnham Body Shop.


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Q    And what kind of work do you do there?

A    Body man.

Q    How long have you been there?

A    A little over a year.

Q    Do you know Ronnie Kimble?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And what is -- how long have you known Ronnie Kimble?

A    About 12, 13 years.

Q    Since you were about 15, 14 or 15 years old?

A    Probably, right now.

Q    Would you tell the jury, what kind of a friendship is this? How good a friend is he of yours?

A    He was my best friend. He was always there for me. And, you know, he helped me out a whole lot.

Q    And was there a time back right after high school

did you and he graduate from high school at the same time?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And after high school, and before Ronnie went into the Marine Corps, was there a time when you all lived together?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Would you tell the jury about that, please.

A    He lived down my house probably, I'd say probably a month and a half, two months, and he would buy stuff for the house, do stuff around there, you know, without being asked. He, you know, wasn't a freeloader. And he helped me out a


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whole lot.

Q    He helped you and -- was that your parents' house that you all lived at?

A    My grandmother's, yes, sir.

Q    Your grandmother's house? So he was helpful to your grandmother and -‑

A    Yes, sir.

Q    -- you; is that right? Do you -- were you aware of Ronnie Kimble's relationship with Kim Stump Kimble?

A    Somewhat, yes, sir.

Q    You were?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Do you remember when they first were dating?

A    I just know they dated in high school.

Q    Were you involved in that? Did you double-date with them or --

A    No, sir.

Q    Okay. Were you -- during the latter years of high school, do you remember whether Ronnie Kimble and Kim went together?

A    I think they went together pretty much all the time we was in high school.

Q    Was there a time early on when they were engaged?

A    I can't remember.

Q    Okay. Do you remember when they got married?


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A    Yes, sir.

Q    What do you remember about that?

A    I was best man in the wedding.

Q    Okay. And do you -- during those years when you were good friends with Ronnie, before -- by the way, did you think of enrolling in the Marine Corps with him?

A    No, sir.

Q    Okay. During those years, were you aware of Ronnie's relationship to his brother, Ted?

A    Yes.

Q    Could you describe that relationship to the members of the jury.

A    Well, they -- you never seen them do anything together, and they just, you know, didn't get along real great. It was just typical brothers, I guess.

Q    Typical brothers that didn't get along?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Do you know what the age difference was between these two young men?

A    Two years, I think.

Q    Do you remember Ronnie hanging around with his brother and riding around in cars and things like that with him?

A    No, sir.

Q    Do you remember Ronnie and Ted dating girls together and double-dating and --


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A    No, sir.

Q    -- that sort of thing? You don't remember any -‑

A    No, sir.

Q     -- of that? Do you remember Ronnie and Ted playing sports together?

A    No, sir.

Q    Do you remember them hunting together?

A    No, sir.

Q    Do you know whether Ronnie earned money during his high school years and before he went in the Marine Corps?

A    Yes, sir. He had a lawn service. I helped him out some on it.

Q    Did he have equipment that he -‑

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Can you tell the jury a little bit about the details of how it was done.

A    It was just sort of a small setup, you know, just a riding mower and a push mower and a weed eater. And he'd do little odds and end jobs, mow yards, rake them. And I'd help him some, after school.

Q    And did you all share the money that you were paid by the customers, when you helped him?

A    He just paid me, yes, sir.

Q    Was this pretty much of a full-time job for him, or do you know?


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A    There for a while, I think it was, yes, sir.

Q    Now, do you remember when Ronnie went into the Marine Corps?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Do you remember what year that was?

A    Not right offhand, I don't.

Q    Do you remember the period of time that Ronnie was in Spain?

A    I remember he was on that Mediterranean float.

Q    How long did that last?

A    Six months.

Q    So, during that period of time, he was simply out of the country and unavailable?

A    Right. He wrote letters.

Q    He wrote letters?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Do you know whether he wrote his brother, Ted, letters?

A    No, sir.

Q    Did he write you letters?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And tell you what his activities were over there?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    During those early years, was Ronnie involved in the church?

A    Yes, sir.


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Q    Did that have any effect upon your life?

A    Well, yes, sir, it did.

Q    Will you tell the jury what that was.

A    I mean, you know, he was just -- I really can't, you know, pinpoint what it was, just -- you know, he was just, like I say, he was just, you know, something different about him. He was always, you know, there for me when I needed him. And I seen, you know, his life, and it sort of encouraged me.

Q    Did he get you interested in joining the church?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And did he lead you in the direction of more spirituality?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Do you remember, after Ronnie and Kim got married, their living in Swansboro?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Did you go down and visit them?

A    Yes, sir. When she was sick one time, I went down with him and stayed down there a day, and then we come back. He had some paperwork he had to do, to get an extra leave off.

Q    Okay. Do you recall using any firearms with Ronnie on any occasions?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Can you tell the jury about that?


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A    We'd just go out in a little pasture I had there below the house, and we'd, you know, shoot like, you know, cinder blocks, you know, pieces of wood standing up down there in the bottom of the field.

Q    What kind of firearm did Ronnie have?

A    I think he had a 30.06.

Q    Was that a rifle?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Did you ever know him -- know of him to actually hunt deer with that gun?

A    No, sir.

Q    And to the best of your knowledge, has he ever killed a deer?

A    No, sir, I don't -‑

Q    Now, what kind of a gun did you have on these occasions?

A    I had a 9mm.

Q    Okay. Is that a pistol?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Okay. And did you use the pistol?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Did you let Ronnie use the pistol?

A    No, sir.

Q    Has he ever handled your gun?

A    He handled it right when I first got it, at Christmas


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Eve we had a party, and he did stand there in the den, looking at it.

Q    Okay. So did someone give it to you at Christmas time?

A    Yes, sir, my mother and father.

Q    Your mother and father did?

A    (The witness nodded his head up and down.)

Q    Do you recall observing Ronnie ever fire that gun?

A    No, sir.

Q    Now, I assume that you've seen Ted Kimble many times in your life?

A    Not too many, but some, yes, sir.

Q    Have you seen Ted Kimble carry a gun?

A    No, sir.

Q    Have you -- after Ronnie was in the Marine Corps, do you recall Ted getting married?

A    I know he got married, but I don't remember when.

Q    Were you invited to the ceremony?

A    I don't think so.

Q    You're a member of Monnett Road, aren't you?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Do you remember some sort of memorial ceremony for the marriage in the spring of 1994, when they got married, or when they announced to everybody they were married? Did you know anything about that?

A    No, sir.


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Q    Did you know Patricia Kimble?

A    I met her once, I think.

Q    Where was that?

A    At Ronnie's wedding.

Q    So she did attend Ronnie's wedding?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    All right. When Ronnie was sworn into the Marine Corps, after he'd made it through basic training, did you go to that ceremony?

A    No, sir.

Q    Were you invited to it?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Just couldn't make the trip?

A    Yeah.

MR. HATFIELD: That's all the questions I have. Thank you.

THE COURT: Mr. Panosh, any questions?

MR. PANOSH: Yes, sir.

CROSS-EXAMINATION by MR. PANOSH:

Q    So you knew him quite well when he was 15 years of age?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Drawing your attention to that period of time, did he and his brother ever get in trouble together?

A    I can't recall.

MR. LLOYD: Objection, Your Honor.


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MR. HATFIELD: Objection.

THE COURT: Sustained.

MR. HATFIELD: Ask the jury to be instructed.

THE COURT: Members of the jury, disregard that question.

MR. PANOSH: Your Honor, we'd ask the matter, based on what he said about their relationship.

THE COURT: Overruled.

Q    You said that he guided you in spiritual matters?

A    Well, yes, sir.

MR. PANOSH: May I have those exhibits?

MR. HATFIELD: Objection. Ask for a hearing outside the presence of the jury.

THE COURT: Let me see the documents, sir, what you're talking about.

(The clerk handed an envelope to Mr. Panosh, and Mr. Panosh handed the envelope to the Court.) (Time was allowed for the Court.)

THE COURT: Objection sustained.

Q    Do you know what, if anything, Ronnie Kimble did during the period of time after his arrest?

A    Excuse me? I don't -‑

Q    Do you know what, if anything, Ronnie Kimble did during the period of time after his arrest?

A    No, sir.


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Q    While he was in custody?

A    No, sir.

Q    And you said that, to your knowledge, Ronnie Kimble did not ride around in his brother's car?

A    No, sir.

Q    Are you saying you don't know of any situation, or are you saying that you definitely know he didn't ride around in his car?

A    I never seen him ride around with him.

Q    But you do know that he worked for his brother at Lyles from time to time?

A    Every once in a while, yes, sir.

Q    And you do know that he got materials from his brother?

A    I don't know that.

Q    He never told you that he was able to get building materials and -‑

A    I suppose he could, but he never told me, no, sir.

Q    When you said you had a close relationship with Ronnie Kimble, what do you mean?

A    I mean, he was my best friend. I mean, all through high school and in high school and, you know, after we graduated, while he was in the Marines.

Q    And drawing your attention to the time after graduation and while he was in the Marines, did you and he talk frequently?


2500

A    When he come in, yes, sir, when he -‑

Q    When he'd be in Greensboro?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And did you call him while he was down at his base?

A    No, sir.

Q    Do you know Joy Dyer?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    Do you know about the fact that Joy became pregnant at some point, about the end of high school?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And did Ronnie consult with you about that?

A    Yes, sir, he spoke to me about it.

Q    And what did you tell him to do?

A    I just -- I really didn't tell him what to do. I mean, I wasn't the one to give advice, I didn't think.

Q    Did you tell him to see someone who could give him advice?

A    No, sir.

Q    Do you remember being interviewed on the telephone on August the 25th of 1998, this year?

A    Was that on a Monday?

Q    I believe so, sir.

A    No, sir. I wasn't at home.

Q    Do you remember being interviewed at your -- at Perdue-Durham (sic) Body Shop?


2501

A    Yes, sir.

Q    So you were interviewed?

A    What it was, he said he wanted to ask me a few questions, and I refused to answer any.

Q    Did you state to him that you were supporting Ronnie Kimble, and Kimble's attorney told you not to talk with the District Attorney's Office or law enforcement, in the event you were contacted?

A    I said I supported Ronnie Kimble, and I didn't say who told me I did not have to speak to y'all. I did not say no names.

Q    But you refused the interview?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And said you were supporting Ronnie?

A    Yes, sir. I said I've been subpoenaed by Ronnie's attorneys, also.

Q    Drawing your attention to October the 9th of 1995.

A    Uh-huh.

Q    Do you remember finding out Patricia Kimble had been killed?

A    Yes, sir. My sister told me about it when I got home._

Q    Were you notified by Ronnie?

A    No, sir.

Q    Did you know Ronnie was in town at that time?

A    No, sir.


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MR. PANOSH: No further questions.

THE COURT: Step down, sir.

MR. HATFIELD: Just a second, please.

THE COURT: All right, sir.

REDIRECT EXAMINATION by MR. HATFIELD:

Q    You're Ronnie's best friend, aren't you?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    You've known him 15 years?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And until Mr. Lloyd and I sent a subpoena to you, to testify in this case, nobody ever interviewed you about this, did they?

A    No, sir.

Q    No one ever asked you what kind of person Ronnie was or where he'd been, did they?

A    No, sir.

Q    Now, when Mr. Pendergrass tried to contact you, you told him you were a witness for Ronnie, didn't you?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And he said that you could still talk to him, didn't he?

A    Excuse me?

Q    He advised you that you could still talk to him?

A    Yes, sir.

Q    And you told him that you just didn't want to?


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A    Yes, sir.

Q    And then he said to you -‑

MR. PANOSH: We object. This is his witness, please.

THE COURT: Sustained.

Q    Isn't it a fact, sir, that Mr. Pendergrass said to you, "Did Hatfield tell you not to talk to me?"

MR. PANOSH: Objection.

A    Yes, sir.

THE COURT: Sustained.

Q    What did Mr. Pendergrass say to you, after you advised him you didn't want to talk to him?

A    He just sort of paused, and I said, "Well, if you don't have anything else, I need to get back to work."

MR. HATFIELD: Thank you.

No further questions.

THE COURT: Step down.

(The witness left the witness stand.)

 

 

Published August 15, 2006.  Report broken links or other problems.

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