Opinion ID: 1699092
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Complete Transcript of Testimony Presented by Defense in Penalty Phase

Text: MR. PERRY [defense lawyer]: Lula Hodges, Your Honor. THE BAILIFF: Please step forward before the clerk and be sworn, ma'am. Please be seated on the witness stand, ma'am. THE COURT: As you testify, ma'am, please speak up in a clear, loud voice so we can all hear you. LULA HODGES, being sworn, was examined and testified as follows: DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. PERRY: Q. Would you state your name, please, ma'am?
Q. Mrs. Hodges, where do you live? A. 4905 Denver Street, Dayton, Ohio. Q. Did George Hodges live, grow up in Dayton, Ohio? A. No, he didn't. Q. Where? A. West Virginia. Q. Is that where you and will your husband are originally from? A. Yes. Q. Do you have any other children besides George? A. Yes, I have four others besides him. Q. Are all of those children living? A. No. Three of them is living. I have one dead. Q. What year was George born? A. In '57. Q. 1957? Was he your youngest, your oldest? A. He was the youngest. Q. Your son that is deceased, how did he die? A. He drowned. Q. Were he and George close? A. Yes, they were. Q. Did his death have any affect on George? A. Yes, it did. Q. What affect did his death have on George? A. It just seemed to change him completely, because they was real close. Q. You indicate now that you live in Ohio. George grew up in West Virginia during the time he was growing up. Did you move around a lot? A. Yes, we did. Q. Was George able to establish any long term friendships? A. No, he wasn't. Q. Were most of his activity, most of his friendships more or less limited to the family unit, to his brothers? A. Yes. Q. Have you had occasion to see George with his children and stepchildren, I believe, Jessie Watson? A. Yes. Yes. Q. Star, and I can't remember his youngest daughter's name. A. Jennifer. Q. Jennifer? A. Yes. Q. How is George with his children? A. He was, they loved him. He was good with them. Q. Did George ever finish high school? A. No, he didn't. Q. You know why he quit? A. Well, we had moved to another job in another state and he was living with his sister. And he decided wanted to go with us, instead of finishing school. Q. And did he ever finish school? A. He got a GED test, yes. Q. Has George ever been married before? A. Yes, he has. Q. When was that? A. I think it was either '77 or '78. I am not sure. Q. Does he have a child from that? A. Yes, he does. Q. Did you have have occasion to see George interact with that child? A. Yes. Q. What was his relationship with that child? A. They were good. Q. How would you describe your relationship with George? A. I  good. We have, we were close. MR. PERRY: I have no further questions, Your Honor. THE COURT: Cross? MR. BENITO: I have no questions of Ms. Hodges. THE COURT: You may step down, ma'am. Thank you much. Call your next witness. [The witness leaves the courtroom.] MR. PERRY: The State would call, I mean the defense would call Harold Stewart. Excuse me, Judge. THE BAILIFF: Please step forward to the clerk and be sworn, sir. Please be seated here on the witness stand, sir. THE COURT: As you testify, sir, please speak up a clear, loud voice so we can all hear you. HAROLD STEWART, being sworn, was examined and testified as follows: DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. PERRY: Q. State your name, please, sir. A. Harold Stewart. Q. Mr. Stewart, where do you live? A. 4107 Street Mulberry. Q. Where are you employed, Mr. Stewart? A. Local 1240. Q. Okay. And what do you do there? A. I am a laborer. Q. Okay. Do you know George Hodges? A. Yes, sir. Q. Is George Hodges your brother-in-law? A. Yes, sir. Q. And his wife is your sister; is that correct? A. Right. Q. Do you work with George? A. Yes. Q. Or did you work with George? A. Yes. Q. What type of worker was George? A. A good worker. Q. Did you ever have any problems with him on the job? A. No. Q. And did you have occasion to be with George besides at work, on social occasions with he and their children? A. Yes. He got along with them fine. Q. What was his relationship with his children, with his stepchildren and his children? A. He loved them. Q. Would you say he was a good father? A. Yes. Q. How did George get along with your mother, with his in-laws? A. Got along just fine. They always liked him. They called him if they needed any help in any way, he would come over and help them in any way he could. Q. Did George have any hobbies that you participated in with him? A. Well, mostly, fishing. He loved to fish. Q. Did you go fishing with him often? A. Yes. Q. And that was basically the thing that he enjoyed do? A. Right. Q Did Jessie go with you when you went fishing as kids? A. On occasions he would go. Q. Do you still consider George a friend? A. Yes, sir. Q. And would George still be welcome in your house? A. Any time. MR. PERRY: I don't have any further questions. THE COURT: Cross? MR. BENITO: No questions. THE COURT: You are excused, sir. You may step down.