Opinion ID: 2720490
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence Against Bryant

Text: Bryant had twice hired a contract killer. Walter Compton testified that Bryant offered him $10,000 to kill Sofinia Newsom, a cooperating witness in the Kenneth Gentry murder prosecution. Jeff gave Compton a handgun and getaway car. Compton followed Newsom for several days, but ultimately decided against the murder. He surrendered to the police because he feared going to prison or being killed by the Bryants. On March 19, 1985, Clarence Johnson was shot several times while sitting in Bryant‘s pickup truck outside the pool hall. Johnson survived; David Hodnett pleaded guilty to the attempted murder. Although Hodnett testified that he shot Johnson for personal reasons, he had previously told police that Bryant and Jeff had hired him to kill Johnson. Hodnett was supposed to testify against the Bryants in the Johnson case. He told the investigating officer he instead pleaded guilty during the preliminary hearing and stopped cooperating in order to protect himself and his family from retaliation.