Janice Lynn Johnson, Witness for the State
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THE COURT: Call your next witness.
MR. PANOSH: Ms. Johnson, please. Ms. Johnson. Come up, please.
JANICE LYNN
JOHNSON, being first duly sworn, testified as follows during VOIR
DIRE EXAMINATION by MR. PANOSH:
Q Would you
state your name, please.
A Janice
Lynn Johnson.
Q Ms. Johnson, if you could keep your voice up, we'd appreciate
it.
Do
you know the defendant, Ronnie Kimble?
A I do.
Q And how
do you know him?
A From high
school mostly.
Q Again, if you could keep your voice up -MR. LLOYD: Excuse me.
I didn't hear. -- we'd appreciate it.
A From high
school mostly.
Q And since
high school, have you had occasion to
811
interact with him on various occasions?
A Yes, sir.
Q Do you
know Theodore Kimble?
A Yes, sir.
Q And did
you know Patricia?
A Yes.
Q How did
you know Patricia?
A I knew
her from South Elm Street Baptist Church.
Q And were
you and she friends?
A We were
acquaintances.
Q
After
the death of Patricia Kimble in October of 1995, did you begin to
see Ted Kimble?
A Yes, sir.
Q About
when did you start seeing him?
A I'd say
two to three weeks afterwards.
Q And in
the course of your seeing him, did there come time when he took you
to the home that had been burned?
A Yes, sir.
Q And when you went to that home, what condition was it in?
A The walls
had been removed. It was just mostly bare floors, and no walls.
Q It was in
the process of restoration?
A Correct.
Q Would you
describe the -- what Ted did while you were
812
there at the home.
A He went
through the home, just kind of like, "Here's where her body was."
And he went through -- he went and jumped down through one of the
floors and kind of looked around, like he was looking for something,
kind of. He was very -- I don't know if the word nonchalant, but he
was very -- just unemotional about it.
Q In the course of speaking to him about Patricia, after the
death of Patricia, did you and he discuss the insurance money?
A To what
--
Q Did you and he talk about the fact that he wasn't receiving the
insurance money?
A Yes. He explained to me very -- many times that he was quite
upset that he wasn't getting the money in the amounts that he
wanted.
Q Did there come a time when you witnessed certain documents
being filled out in regard to the claim on the homeowners insurance?
A Yes.
Q Would you
tell the Court about that, please.
A It was
during the time when he had to write down things that were missing
-- things that were burned and damaged in the house, such as the
beds, the furniture, the bedroom suits. When it came to how old they
were, he seemed to not
813
remember and want to put down something that was of older age or of
younger age, as to the furniture and the amount that they were
worth.
Q Did he --
MR. LLOYD: Excuse me. I couldn't hear the witness, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Speak a little bit louder, please, Ms. Johnson. Repeat
what you said.
A The
amount that things were worth, he seemed to feel that they were
worth more. Things that were of age, he seemed that they were -- he
would make it they were older of age or younger of age. It appeared
to me that he was trying to get more money for things that were
damaged or burned.
Q Did he make certain statements to you during the period of time
that he was filling out that document or proof of loss?
A No, not
--
Q Did there come a time when he said, "How are they going to know
prices?"
A Right. He
did.
Q Would you tell the Court about that, please, what he said.
A In exact
words?
Q The best
you can recall.
A He was
like, "Well, they're damaged. They're burned.
814
How are they going to know exactly what they were to begin with, and
how are they going to know that the damage is or the price was?"
Q And what was
that discussion about?
A What
specifically objects? Mostly it was about the bedroom furniture,
such as like the guest bedroom furniture, their bedroom furniture,
the living room, like the entertainment stuff, things of that.
Q And what
was said that made you believe or led you to believe that he was
overstating the value of those items?
A The tone
of his voice, his actions, his -- you know, the way that he had
talked about the things.
Q Did he
indicate to you whether or not he expected money as a result of that
insurance claim that he was filling out proof of loss?
A
Yes, he did. He expected to get all the money that he had -- the
things that he had wanted to replace, he thought that he would get
the money to replace them.
Q In the
course of that discussion, was it ever mentioned that some of those
things didn't exist?
A He never said that none of the things ever existed, no.
MR. LLOYD: Excuse me. I didn't hear the response of the witness.
A He never
said that none of the things had existed.
Q Did there
come a time when you witnessed a conversation
815
between the defendant, Ronnie Kimble, and Theodore Kimble?
A Yes.
Q Would you
tell the Court about that, please.
A Ted had
received a phone call while we were at his house one evening, and he
became very upset and would not speak to me about it, and wouldn't
speak to anybody about it, for that fact. He immediately left and
went over to Ronnie's in-laws' house and got Ronnie to come outside.
And I sat in the vehicle while those two conversed quite -- as far
as body language goes, they were very upset and angry.
Q And could you hear what was
being said?
A No, sir.
Q
After
the conversation, did you have a conversation with Theodore Kimble?
A No. He
remained silent. He was very --
Q Did you
ask him anything?
A I didn't
ask him. If he -- if he wasn't talking, I wasn't going to force him
to talk. I mean, he was upset.
Q Okay. When he got back in the car, what did you say?
A I had
basically just asked "Is everything okay?" And he was like, "No."
And that was the end of it.
Q Did there come a time when you asked him if the conversation
was about Patricia?
A No, I
didn't.
Q Do you
remember when this occurred?
816
A I don't remember a date, no.
Q Do you
remember what month it was?
A It was
mid-November.
Q How long
did your relationship with Theodore Kimble last?
A It ended
the last of November.
Q And when
you say "last of November," are you talking about 1995?
A Correct.
Q During
the period of time that you were with him, or had this relationship
from late October to the end of November, do you know if he was
carrying a handgun?
A Yes, he
was.
Q How do
you know that?
A We went
to an event, and before we went to the coliseum, he had stopped at
the -- his place of employment,„- had the gun in the glove box, and
he showed it to me.
Q To your
knowledge, did he carry that gun wherever he went?
A He did
carry it, not every time that I saw him or -but he did carry it on
a holster.
MR. PANOSH: That would be the substance of the testimony, Your
Honor.
MR. LLOYD: Just a
few questions, Your Honor.
THE COURT: All
right, sir.
817
VOIR DIRE EXAMINATION by MR. LLOYD:
Q
Now, Ms. Johnson,
you indicated that you had known my client, Ronnie Kimble, from high
school; is that correct?
A Correct.
Q Would you
characterize him as an acquaintance? Did you just know him by sight?
A We had
spoken before. In fact, he had wanted me to go out with him, but I
didn't want to.
Q
Okay.
And was this sometime when you were in high school --
A Yes.
Q -- that
he asked you out?
A Yeah.
Q All
right. Had you had any contact, between your high school years and
the time that you testified that you saw him on this occasion
talking with his brother, Ted?
A I don't
understand the question.
Q Had you
had any contact with Ronnie Kimble, from your high school years,
when he asked you out, in the intervening time, between this time
when you saw Ronnie Kimble talking with Ted Kimble?
A No,
huh-uh.
Q So you
hadn't seen him over all those years?
A No.
Q How much
time would that have been, Ms. Johnson?
818
A I'd say about
two, three years.
Q
All right. When
did you graduate from high school?
A I didn't
graduate. I dropped out in '91.
Q All right. So, from '91
until this time in '95, you did not see Ronnie Kimble --
A Right.
Q -- you
didn't have any contact with him --
A No.
Q -- is
that correct? All right. Now, you indicated to Mr. Panosh on direct
examination that when Ted Kimble was talking about what to put down
on the insurance claim, he never indicated to you that he was
putting down items that just simply did not exist?
A Never
indicated that to me at all.
Q All
right. And what he said to you was, that he couldn't really remember
or did not know when the furniture items were purchased; is that
right?
A Correct.
Q All
right. And did he tell you that he didn't know when they were
purchased, because some of them were items that Patricia had
purchased before they were married?
A Some of
them were.
Q All
right. And so that basically, he had to make a guess, in terms of
their age; is that right?
A Correct.
But at the time, whenever he was guessing, I
819
felt like he could
have called a family member, such as his mother or -- her mother or
someone that might have known. I mean, she -- from my knowledge, she
had roommates in the past, and I feel like one of them would have
known the exact age of the furniture.
Q Now, you
indicated in -- as to the time frame of this conversation between
Ronnie and Ted, that you thought that that was sometime in
mid-November of 1995; is that right?
A No. It's
more like the end of October.
Q End of
October. And when -- so this would have been towards the early
period, when Ted started to date you; is that right?
A Yes,
uh-huh.
Q Okay. So
do you know how long you had been dating at that time, when this
conversation took place?
A I would
say about a week, if that.
Q All
right. And you indicated that you went over to the -- to Ronnie
Kimble's in-laws; is that right?
A That's
what Ted had told me, yes.
Q All
right. Did you know the name of the --
A Huh-uh.
Q -- house
where this was? And you did not hear any part of their conversation?
A No.
Q Did you
actually see Ronnie Kimble at this time?
820
A Yes.
Q All right.
And this conversation took place where, out in the yard --
A Out in
the driveway.
Q -- beside
the car?
A In the
driveway.
Q All
right.
A It was at
night, but they were talking in front of the Jeep, where the lights
were shining.
Q All
right. So you were sitting inside the Jeep, the lights are on on the
Jeep, and you could see them right out there in front of the Jeep?
A Correct.
Q All right. So
they were standing right there at the Jeep; is that right?
A Right.
Q All
right. Now, was this at the in-laws' house, or was this at Ronnie's
residence, Ronnie's house trailer?
A No. This
was at the in-laws' house.
Q All
right. Were you familiar with where Ronnie lived at that time?
A Yes,
because we went there for supper one night.
Q Okay. Do you
recall when that was in your relationship?
A When?
821
Q Yes.
A It was around
mid-November.
Q
Okay. Now, you
indicated as far as this handgun is concerned, that Ted showed that
handgun to you sometime when you went to an event at the coliseum;
is that right?
A Yes.
Q And was
that the only time that he showed you the handgun?
A That he
actually showed it to me, yes. But there was times when he was
actually carrying it on his belt --
Q All
right.
A -- that I
saw it.
Q Okay. But as
you indicated on direct examination, he did not always carry that
handgun?
A I'm
sorry?
Q As you
indicated on direct examination, he did not always carry that
handgun, did he --
A No.
Q -- when
you were -- went out?
A (The witness
shook her head from side to side.)
Q And did you
all date on a -- did you date mainly on the weekends; is that right?
A Yes.
Q All
right. Now, in terms of your relationship, Ms. Johnson, with Ted
Kimble, would you characterize that as a
822
romantic
relationship or just a casual dating situation or what?
A It was
romantic.
Q Okay. So this
was a serious relationship, as far as you were concerned?
A Correct.
Q Were you the
one who broke off the relationship with Ted Kimble?
A Yeah. It
was a mutual agreement.
Q All right.
And what did you and Ted Kimble agree, in terms of ending your
relationship?
A That he
would see others, and --
Q And that
you would see others, as well?
A Right.
Q All
right. Did you date any after that time that you had indicated that
your relationship ended towards the last of November?
A Did we
date, Ted and I?
Q Yes,
after that.
A Oh, no.
No.
Q All
right.
MR. LLOYD: That's
all I have, Your Honor.
MR. PANOSH: If I
could.
FURTHER VOIR DIRE EXAMINATION by MR. PANOSH:
Q When you
said "we lived at the trailer," who are you
823
referring to?
A We --
they lived at a trailer, and we, Ted and I, went to their trailer to
have supper one night.
Q Perhaps I didn't understand you. When you were describing the
trailer, you said something about someone living there. What did you
say?
A Ronnie
and his wife lived in a trailer.
Q And you
went there for dinner on at least one occasion?
A Yes, just
one.
MR. PANOSH: No further.
THE COURT: Do you wish to be heard?
MR. LLOYD: Well, Your Honor, I'm going to let Mr. Hatfield argue
this one.
MR. HATFIELD: Your Honor, I'll make it extremely lengthy. I don't
think there's any relevance at all to this case, because she cannot
relate the substance of the conversation between Ted and Ronnie. And
the only basis for offering a statement between Ted and Ronnie would
be if in some way, it showed a conspiracy between the two of them,
because that's the State's theory. And because she doesn't know the
substance of the conversation, it simply has no bearing on this
situation. It is exactly the kind of non-evidence that is likely to
mislead the jury, without shedding any light on any of the real
issues in the case. If she knew what they said, and if they said
something that
824
tended to show a conspiracy, that would be different, but she
doesn't know anything.
And she would
like to try to describe Ted's attitude before and after this
conversation, but she has no idea what Ronnie's was, nor does she
have any idea what Ronnie's demeanor was. So, you know, this is just
ships passing in the night, and she would like to tell about it, for
whatever her reasons are, but we submit it has no bearing on this
case.
THE COURT: The State wish to be heard?
MR. PANOSH:
Your Honor, the fact that they entered into a relationship two weeks
after the death of Patricia which lasted into November of 1995 is
certainly relevant and admissible to contradict the defense'
contention that they -- that Patricia and Ted had a loving and
normal relationship. That's just not a normal thing to occur
immediately following the death of your wife who you've only been
married to for 22 months.
The fact that
she witnessed him putting down information on an insurance form
which was not accurate is consistent with the State's theory that he
was trying to get everything he could out of the insurance as a
result of that death and the fire.
Now, the fact that she witnessed a heated discussion between Ted and
Ronnie shows a continuing
825
relationship between Ted and Ronnie right after the death of
Patricia.
The fact that
Ted can go through the house and describe where his wife's body was
and not be upset, but yet, he gets very upset when he talks about
not getting the insurance money, fits right in with the State's
theory that he didn't care about his wife, he had his wife killed.
He cared about the money.
MR. HATFIELD:
I'd like to say one more word, since I didn't know what --
THE COURT:
Wait a minute, until Mr. Panosh is through.
MR. HATFIELD: All right. I thought he was through.
MR. PANOSH:
The fact that he carried a gun on a continuous basis fits in with
the State's theory that he carried that gun, State's Exhibit 84, up
until the death of Patricia on a continuing basis. And that gun
shouldn't have been in that house when she was killed or when that
fire occurred. And we feel that's strong circumstantial evidence
which supports our theory that he passed that gun to Ronnie just
prior to her death.
The fact --
the very fact that she was kept out of the conversation shows that
there is a relationship between Ronnie and Ted which they want to
keep secret, and that
826
feeds into our conspiracy theory.
Thank you.
MR. HATFIELD:
All right.
THE COURT: Mr.
Hatfield?
MR. HATFIELD:
First of all, Your Honor, there is no evidence that Ted Kimble
passed a gun to Ronnie Kimble at any time, and Mr. Panosh knows
that. So he -- I'm sure he'll be telling the jury that sort of thing
when everyone else is this courtroom has sat down and has finished
saying whatever they can say about this case. But nevertheless, he
has no evidence to support that.
Now, with
regard to her observations of Ted's demeanor when he was looking at
the house and things like that, that -- I didn't object to that. I
understand that the Court is going to allow a certain amount of
description of Ted's mental state before and after the alleged crime
occurred, and I didn't object to it. What I object to is, her
talking about a conversation that she was not a party to. And that
was not a conversation as was just asserted to the Court that was
simply between Ted and Ronnie, if it even happened at all. It
happened at the Stumps' house. They are defense witnesses. They
obviously were present, also. So it wasn't a secret communication.
It -- they would like to say that it's a secret communication,
because the contents of the communication are unknown. But if I
happen
827
to
see two people having a conversation and I can't hear what they say,
that doesn't mean that their communication is necessarily secret. It
just means, I don't know what they said.
She went over
there with Ted apparently. He went and spoke to Ronnie for a minute,
at Ronnie's mother-in-law and father-in-law's house. Presumably they
were also present. We don't know what was said. And it is highly
prejudicial to let her tell about this sort of thing, because she's
got some sort of bad feelings toward Ted. But of course, Your Honor,
she has no bad feelings toward Ronnie, because she doesn't even know
him.
So what -- I
don't know what Your Honor will allow, in terms of the overall
testimony that she gives, but I specifically object to her being
allowed to describe a conversation that she does not know the
contents of. And she also doesn't know the demeanor of Ronnie, and
he's the one on trial. And if she's going to tell about a
conversation she doesn't know the contents of, describe the demeanor
of Ted, who she had a love affair with for a month right after --
you know, Your Honor, she's just as guilty --
MR. PANOSH: We
object.
MR. HATFIELD:
-- of engaging in --
THE COURT:
Well, sustained.
MR. HATFIELD:
-- a love affair after Patricia
828
died. She said she knew Patricia. She just -- it's just as
THE COURT: Well, the Court's going to –
MR. HATFIELD: -- offensive that she --
THE COURT: --
sustain the objection as to --
MR. HATFIELD:
-- would do this as it is that he.
THE COURT: Mr.
Hatfield --
MR. HATFIELD:
Yes, sir.
THE COURT: -- I don't mind hearing you on the other, but I don't --
MR. HATFIELD: Okay. I take -- I'll stay clear of that. You've heard
what we object to, and we would appreciate it if you would consider
it.
Thank you,
Your Honor.
THE COURT: All right. The Court's going to rule that the evidence
given -- that will be given by Janice Johnson is relevant, and that
the probative value would outweigh any prejudicial value, with the
instruction by the Court about the conspiracy.
Bring them
back.
(The jury entered the courtroom at 11:23 a.m.)
THE COURT: Again, members of the jury, as to this witness's
testimony, the Court would admonish you that you must again remember
that this evidence may be considered against Ronnie Kimble only if
you should find there was a
829
conspiracy, that he was a co-conspirator with Ted Kimble, and the
State has satisfied you beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a
conspiracy.
Proceed.
JANICE LYNN JOHNSON, having been previously
duly sworn, testified as follows during DIRECT EXAMINATION by MR.
PANOSH:
Q Would you
state your name for the ladies and gentlemen of the jury, please.
A Janice
Lynn Johnson.
Q And Ms. Johnson, did you know Ronnie Kimble, the defendant?
A Yes, I
do.
Q How do
you know him?
A From high
school.
Q And did you also know Theodore Kimble, his brother?
A Yes.
Q Did you
know Patricia Kimble?
A Yes.
Q And how
did you know Patricia?
A I knew
her from South Elm Street Baptist Church.
Q Did there come a time shortly after the death of Patricia
Kimble when you started to see Ted Kimble?
A Yes.
Q When did
you start to see him?
830
A About three weeks after.
Q And how long
did your relationship last?
A About a
month.
Q
And
during that period of time, did there come a time when Ted took you
to the home that -- in which Patricia died?
A Yes.
Q What was the state of the home at that time? What condition was
it in?
A There
were no walls, and the floors were bare.
Q Okay.
These jurors at the very end need to hear you. If you could keep
your voice up, please. What was the state of the home?
A There
were no walls, and the floor was bare. No carpet or anything.
Q Was it
being repaired?
A It didn't appear to be in repair. It just -- it was stripped.
Q Okay. Was
the hole still there in the hallway?
A Yes.
Q And what
did Theodore Kimble do and say at that time?
A
He pointed over to the hole and said, "That's where her body laid."
And he continued going through the house, as if he was looking for
something.
Q
Specifically, where did you see him go?
831
A
I assume it's a bedroom. He went into the bedroom or -- and he went
and jumped down into a hole that was in the floor.
Q He jumped
into the hole in the floor?
A Not where
the -- not -- you know, there was like no floor, and then he jumped
into that, kind of looking underneath the house.
Q And when he described to you where Patricia's body was, what
emotions did you notice, if any?
A None.
Q At that
time, and subsequent to that time, did you and he discuss the
insurance that he expected to receive, insurance proceeds?
A We never
discussed the amounts of -- or not the amounts, the -- he was very
angry that he wasn't getting the amount that he wanted at the time.
Q What did
he say?
A He said
that he felt that he needed the money and he was going to get the
money.
Q Did there
come a time when you witnessed him filling out certain forms in
regards to the insurance -- the application for insurance proceeds?
A Correct.
Q And what,
if anything, did you notice about that?
A I noticed
that he was having trouble remembering the
832
age of the furniture, and the equipment, as far as with the
entertainment systems. He was guessing as to the ages. He was
guessing them to be older or younger. It seemed that he was trying
to get the most out of what he could.
Q What, if
anything, did he say?
A
He says that "How are they going to know what the age of this stuff
is, or what the value of this stuff is?" the objects.
Q Did there come a time when you witnessed a conversation between
Theodore Kimble and Ronnie Kimble, the defendant?
A Yes.
Q Would you
tell the jury about that, please.
A I was at
the house whenever Ted received a phone call, and he seemed very
upset about the phone call. He had picked up his things and was
going out of the house, to meet with Ronnie. When we got to the
house, he got Ronnie outside alone, and him and Ronnie had conversed
very -- from the body language, I couldn't tell what the
conversation was. He wouldn't speak to me directly about it. He was
very upset. When we got there, he conversed with Ronnie, and they
were very antsy -- I -- you know, upset, about what had happened
with the telephone conversation.
Q You said
you were at the house when the telephone call came in. What house
was that?
A The
Kimbles' household.
833
Q And when you say "the Kimbles' household," which one are you
referring to, which --
A His
parents' house.
Q
And is
that where he was living at the time?
A Yes.
Q
And
who was living there with him, if you know?
A Him and
his mother and his father.
Q And you said you went to another residence. Which residence was
that?
A The
in-laws of Ronnie Kimble.
Q Do you
know their name?
A I don't
know -- I don't know the last name.
Q And you described a conversation. Where did that conversation
take place?
A Out in
front of the vehicle. It was at nighttime, so it was -- they were
standing with the headlights as their light.
Q Who was
present for that?
A Just Ted
and Ronnie.
Q Was this
in the driveway area; is that what you're --
A Yes.
Q --
indicating?
A Uh-huh.
Q Beside
being able to say that they were very animated, what did you notice
about the discussion?
834
A That Ted was very upset with the -- with, like I said, with the
phone call, and wouldn't speak with me about it.
Q Did you try
to speak to him about it?
A No, I
didn't further -- I didn't further push him, as far as what was
going on.
Q During
the period of time that you and he dated, what, if anything, you did
notice about Ted carrying a gun? A He kept it with him quite more
often than I would expect someone to.
Q And
specifically, where did he carry it?
A He
carried it in the glove box -- I mean, not the glove box, but the
center console, and also on his hip, with a holster.
Q And that
relationship lasted from basically early November to the -- I'm
sorry, early November to the end of November --
A Yes.
Q -- is
that correct?
A Or the
last of October to the later part of November.
Q And when
you say "last of October to November," is that 1995?
A Yes.
Q And would you describe that relationship as being a romantic
relationship?
A Yes.
835
Q And what was the reason that that relationship stopped?
A It was a
mutual agreement to see others.
Q Who was
to see others?
A Him and I
both were to see others.
MR. PANOSH: No further questions. Thank you, ma'am.
MR. LLOYD: Just a few,
Your Honor.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
by MR. LLOYD:
Q
Now, Ms. Johnson,
you've indicated that you knew Patricia Kimble from the South Elm
Street Baptist Church; is that right?
A Correct.
Q Were you
a member there?
A Right.
Q Okay. So
you had known her during the course of your membership?
A Yes.
Q And how long
had you been a membership -- a member there?
A I'd say
about a year.
Q
And I
believe you told Mr. Panosh that this relationship that you engaged
in with Ted Kimble you described as a romantic relationship?
A Correct.
Q All
right. And at some point, you considered that a
836
relatively serious
relationship; is that right?
A Yeah.
Q
But the
relationship ended, upon mutual agreement for both of you to see
other people; is that right?
A Correct.
Q All
right. Now, would you describe your association with Patricia Kimble
as being an acquaintance, a friend or what?
A
Acquaintance.
Q All
right. Were you in the same Bible study classes with Patricia?
A No.
Q All
right. Now, directing your attention to this argument that you say
you witnessed -- or not argument, but discussion that you say you
witnessed between Ted and Ronnie Kimble, you were sitting in Ted
Kimble's Jeep at that time; is that right?
A Correct.
Q All
right. And this took place at Ronnie Kimble's in-laws' house; is
that right?
A Yes.
Q All
right. And Ted and Ronnie stood in front of the Jeep, the lights
were on the Jeep; is that right?
A Yes.
Q All
right. So the engine was still running --
837
A Yes.
Q
-- is that
correct? And they stood directly in front of the Jeep, and they had
some sort of conversation, in which you indicated that, I believe
your description was that Ted Kimble at least was antsy; is that
right?
A Correct.
Q All right. This was a
relatively short conversation, was it not?
A Correct.
Q All
right. And after the conversation, Ted got back in the Jeep?
A Yes.
Q All
right. And Ronnie, I assume, went back inside; is that correct?
A Yes.
Q All
right. And you all went ahead and went on with your date, were you
going to dinner or --
A No.
Afterwards, we went on back to the house and I left to go home --
Q All
right.
A --
because he was --
Q And you
did not hear any part of the conversation?
A No, sir.
Q But you
were not specifically excluded from the conversation, Ted said --
never said to you "I don't want
838
you listening in
on this conversation" or anything like that, did he?
A He said,
"Stay there."
Q All
right. Okay. Stay there in the --
A In the
car.
Q -- car.
And there was no place for you to go, was it?
A Other than
standing there and listening to the conversation would be outside.
Q Okay.
There wasn't -- they never went inside the house at any time, did
they?
A No.
Q All
right. So -- and you don't know what they were discussing at this
time?
A No.
Q You don't
know whether they were discussing -- Well, let me ask you this, Ms.
Johnson. When Ted Kimble made the telephone call, he made no attempt
to hide the fact from you that he had spoken on the phone to his
brother, Ronnie; is that right?
A I didn't
have knowledge of any -- of who he'd spoken to or who the phone call
came from.
Q Okay. But
he told you that he was going over to see his brother, Ronnie?
A Right.
Q That they
were going over to Ronnie's in-laws' house?
839
A Right.
Q So he didn't
make any attempt to hide that from you, did he?
A No.
Q
All
right. And he was very open about that, and he said, "That's where
we're going?"
A Well, he
said, "We're going to go get Ronnie."
Q Okay.
A I mean, I
didn't know --
Q But you
knew who Ronnie was?
A Yeah.
Q All
right. Now, you had indicated that you had known Ronnie at sometime
in high school; is that right?
A Correct.
Q All
right. And the last time that you saw Ronnie was in 1991; is that
correct?
A Correct.
Q All
right. And this was, of course, in -- what did you say, in terms of
the time frame here? This was in October or November? In November of
1995?
A That I
saw him again?
Q That this
conversation took place.
A Yes,
November.
Q
All
right. And the fact of the matter is, Ms. Johnson, you don't know
whether this conversation regarded some sort
840
of insult that
Ronnie had made towards Ted, you don't know what it involved, do
you?
A No.
Q All
right.
MR. LLOYD: That's
all I have, Your Honor.
REDIRECT EXAMINATION by MR. PANOSH:
Q You were
asked whether you would characterize this as a discussion or an
argument, and I didn't hear your answer.
MR. LLOYD: Well, objection, Your Honor. I never asked her that.
THE COURT:
Sustained.
Q Would you have characterized this conversation as a discussion
or an argument?
A I would say a discussion, but it was a heated discussion.
Q And you
said you left that night. Why did you leave?
A Because
Ted was angry and wouldn't speak, and I didn't feel like being
around someone who was angry for reasons I didn't know.
MR. PANOSH: No
further questions.
THE COURT:
Step down, ma'am.
(The witness
left the witness stand.)
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