Opinion ID: 168528
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mr. Short's relationship with Brenda

Text: 6 Marjorie Long, Brenda's mother, testified that in 1994 she rented an Oklahoma City apartment to Brenda and Mr. Short, an employee of Two Guys Auto, an auto repair shop. She stated that after Mr. Short ransacked the bedroom and broke a window, she took his name off the lease. She testified that in August or September of 1994, Mr. Short threw rocks at her car when she was driving with Brenda, and also tried to run her off the road. Mr. Short pulled up next to her car and when Brenda refused to talk to him, he said, I'll just get some gas and pour [it] on your mother and set her on fire. Rec. vol. III, at 126. Brenda also testified that Mr. Short had threatened her and her family. She also stated that, at another time, he had shown her how to make a firebomb, using a bottle, gasoline, wax, and a towel. 7 The prosecution presented testimony from Oklahoma City police officer Sergeant Chuck Wheeler about Mr. Short's threatening behavior. Sergeant Wheeler stated that, on December 26, 1994, he answered a call that a female, Brenda, was being held against her will by a male, Mr. Short. Sergeant Wheeler took Brenda to her sister's apartment, despite Mr. Short's protests. 8 Brenda admitted to having broken up with Mr. Short on December 26, 1994. However, she saw him almost daily from December 28 through January 4, 1995, when she and Mr. Short were charged with shoplifting. 9 Brenda's sister Janet testified that she accompanied Brenda to court on the shoplifiting charge. According to Janet, Mr. Short was getting angry and wanted Brenda to [t]ake the rap for it. Id. at 144. She stated that he [s]aid she'd better or else. Id. 10 Mr. Hines also went to the courthouse on January 4, and told Mr. Short, Don't be threatening my family. Id. at 233. According to Mr. Hines, Mr. Short started threatening Mr. Hines at that point. 11 Mr. Short's aunt testified that about three days before the fire, she had seen Mr. Short in a red coat that was stained with gasoline and oil. She testified that the coat—an exhibit in the case—looked about the same as before the fire. 12 Finally, Keith Partain, a friend of Mr. Short's for fifteen years, testified that about a week before the fire, Mr. Short remarked that he was going to burn Brenda and her family up. Rec. vol. IV, at 137. Mr. Partain thought Mr. Short was joking when he said this. When Mr. Partain saw Mr. Short on the day before the fire, Mr. Short seemed depressed about having broken up with Brenda. However, Linda Gonzalez, another friend, testified she saw him at about 7 p.m. that evening and that he seemed to be happy like he always is. Id. at 143.