State v. Holmes

FRYE, Justice.

Defendants Holmes and Penn were tried together for the murder of “Danny Boy” Hooper. The State’s evidence showed that on 11 January 1988, Holmes, Penn, and the deceased left a liquor house in an automobile driven by Penn. Approximately twenty-four hours later, Hooper’s body was found lying in some woods in Winston-Salem.

The State called as a witness Debra Penn, the wife of defendant Penn and the sister of defendant Holmes'. Penn objected to the testimony of his wife as to a conversation they had when no one else was present and to certain conduct by him which she observed at…