(Whereupon, the witness was first duly sworn.) BEVERLY WHARF, being first duly sworn, was examined and testified as follows during DIRECT EXAMINATION by MR. LLOYD:

Q.    Ms. Wharf, if you could state your full name for the record, please, ma'am.

A.    Beverly Wharf.

Q.    All right. And you work, Ms. Wharf?

A.    I'm a housewife. And I operate two mobile home companies in South Carolina.

Q.    All right. And how is it that you know Ronnie Kimble?

A.    As well as I can remember, I met him through the

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Kimble family. When he was about 14, 15 years old.

Q.    And did there come a time when Ronnie did work for you?

A.    Yes. He worked for us for several years. He mainly mowed the yard. He made a lot of flower beds. He made nature areas. He worked in -- then we were in the chicken business, which I hate to say that, but he worked a little bit in that. He would do most anything. One of the most hardworking, ambitious young men I've ever met.

Q.    All right. And during the time that he'd worked for you, Ms. Wharf, did there come a time that he did any painting for you?

A.    Yes. He painted the inside of our house. On the inside. Done a great job.

Q.    And if you -- you've touched on some of his work habits. If you had to describe his work habits, how would you describe those?

A.    Some of the best I've ever seen. For his age, he done better than a lot of older men could do.

Q.    Now, did Ronnie take an interest in you personally?

A.    I think so. And I did him too.

Q.    All right.

A.    He'd eat over at my house. And when he went in

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the Marines, I took him out to eat one night. My husband had aimed to go, but he couldn't go because he works for BellSouth and he was tied up, and he told me to go ahead and take him out to eat because we were very proud of him.

Q.    And if you had to sum up your relationship with Ronnie, how would you describe that?

A.    (Witness visibly upset)  Excuse me. He was just like the son I never had. I loved him. I still do.

Q.    You need some water, Ms. Wharf?

A.    No.

MR. LLOYD: That's all I have, Your Honor.

THE WITNESS: He's a great young man.

MR. PANOSH: No questions. Thank you.

THE COURT: Step down, ma'am. Next witness, please.

MR. LLOYD: Your Honor, if I could have just a second with Mr. Hatfield.

THE COURT: Would you like to stretch, members of the jury.