Stephens v. State

Appellant Joe Stephens was convicted by a Covington County jury of stealing a lowboy trailer, the property of Larkin Broom. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, from which he appeals, alleging numerous grounds for reversal.

I

Appellant contends that a twelve-year-old witness was incompetent to give testimony in this case. The court, in accordance with § 12-21-165, Code of Alabama 1975, examined the witness, Bobbi Jo Compton, asking her various questions to determine her intelligence and knowledge. In answer to the question, "Did you understand what the oath meant?" the witness…