NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The brother of the man on trial for killing a popular store owner got into a standoff Wednesday morning with the judge and was held in contempt of court and sentenced to a year behind bars.
Bruce Hisle is on trial and has been charged with murder in the December 2023 shooting death of James Carter at his store on Lindenwood Avenue.
Norfolk murder trial underway in death of popular store owner
His brother, Dennis Hisle, was originally charged with killing Carter until last fall, when Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi announced that the evidence showed instead that Bruce Hisle should be the one tried for the killing.
Dennis Hisle’s plea agreement had him admit to two gun charges and he was sentenced to two years of active prison time, but the deal did not require him to testify.
Struggle to seek justice in shooting death of Norfolk convenience store owner
Nonetheless, the prosecution called Dennis Hisle as a witness. He entered the courtroom in his jail jumpsuit and immediately looked at Judge Tasha Scott and said “I’m not testifying.”…