March 26, 2008
NEWS ANALYSIS: Witness Testifies Holmes Offered Him Money to Kill Morgan
Says Holmes 'Ordered Four Other Kids Killings'; Prom Night Murder Rumors
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – “She’s offered a lot of people money to kill people. I know what happened. I have no doubt in my mind that she ordered that woman’s murder,” testified Larry Clark, an admitted drug addict who added, “ I have no doubt in my mind that she ordered four other kids’ deaths in this town.”
Clark’s testimony shocked the crowd in the courtroom and momentarily stopped the trial of 26 year-old Cherylethia Glenchelle "Bunny" Holmes Tuesday morning, March 25 in Cabell County Circuit Court. Holmes’ attorney Mark Hobbs quickly moved for a mistrial. Judge Alfred Ferguson ordered the jury out of the courtroom then resumed the trial shortly afterwards telling the jurors to disregard the comments.
Prior to the statement the witness attempted to rebut defense attempts to discredit his testimony by labeling him a “crack head.” Clark admitted to using drugs, but said his memory was fine. "I'm telling you, I know what happened and I was there."
Holmes is charged with being an accessory before the fact in the murder of former honor student turned drug addict and prostitute Wendy Morgan. Clark testified that Holmes had offered him $1,500 to kill Morgan.
The woman has been linked by media reports and rumors to the quadruple prom night 2005 murders of Megan Poston, Eddrick Clark, Michael Dillon and Dante Ward. The four teens were shot to death on Charleston Avenue; their killer(s) have yet to be brought to justice.
Although Ferguson ordered the comments on the quadruple murder stricken from the record and instructed the jury to disregard the testimony saying they didn't relate to this case, the decision to continue leaves the defense with a possible appeal.: One appeal would most likely be based on the testimony of Clark linking Holmes to the infamous teen killings. Did it so prejudice the jury that they would be unable to objectively judge the evidence presented regarding Morgan’s killing?
Actually, the alleged motive behind the killing of Morgan has been often advanced as the link to the prom night killings. Morgan apparently stole drugs and/or money from Holmes who allegedly helped supervise drug sales in Huntington neighborhoods and ran a crack house.
The theory being bandied about by police officials at the time of the teen killings was that they simply “were in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Other speculation focused on the idea that one of the teens may have been a target and the others just happened to be at the house when the shooter(s) arrived. One of the victims, Dante Ward, had been shot at several months prior to his killing. He escaped serious injury in that incident.
But what impact could the seemingly confident testimony of the witness have on the unsolved case? Apparently he’s been questioned before by law enforcement. Did he drop his verbal bombshell on purpose to help Holmes or was he that sure in speaking about events in 2004-2005?
One part of his testimony intrigues. The comment “I was there.” Does that mean he was present when the offer to kill Morgan came down or was he also present when an order to kill other teens was discussed?
Holmes has been charged as an accessory before the fact in the killing of Ms. Morgan whose body was found in the 500 block of Fifth Street. She perished from bullet wounds.
The witness, Larry Clark, has been clean for more than a year according to his testimony. He portrays himself as someone who has learned the dangers of drugs, kicked the habit, and now wants to help rid the city of the plague.
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Says Holmes 'Ordered Four Other Kids Killings'; Prom Night Murder Rumors
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – “She’s offered a lot of people money to kill people. I know what happened. I have no doubt in my mind that she ordered that woman’s murder,” testified Larry Clark, an admitted drug addict who added, “ I have no doubt in my mind that she ordered four other kids’ deaths in this town.”
Clark’s testimony shocked the crowd in the courtroom and momentarily stopped the trial of 26 year-old Cherylethia Glenchelle "Bunny" Holmes Tuesday morning, March 25 in Cabell County Circuit Court. Holmes’ attorney Mark Hobbs quickly moved for a mistrial. Judge Alfred Ferguson ordered the jury out of the courtroom then resumed the trial shortly afterwards telling the jurors to disregard the comments.
Prior to the statement the witness attempted to rebut defense attempts to discredit his testimony by labeling him a “crack head.” Clark admitted to using drugs, but said his memory was fine. "I'm telling you, I know what happened and I was there."
Holmes is charged with being an accessory before the fact in the murder of former honor student turned drug addict and prostitute Wendy Morgan. Clark testified that Holmes had offered him $1,500 to kill Morgan.
The woman has been linked by media reports and rumors to the quadruple prom night 2005 murders of Megan Poston, Eddrick Clark, Michael Dillon and Dante Ward. The four teens were shot to death on Charleston Avenue; their killer(s) have yet to be brought to justice.
Although Ferguson ordered the comments on the quadruple murder stricken from the record and instructed the jury to disregard the testimony saying they didn't relate to this case, the decision to continue leaves the defense with a possible appeal.: One appeal would most likely be based on the testimony of Clark linking Holmes to the infamous teen killings. Did it so prejudice the jury that they would be unable to objectively judge the evidence presented regarding Morgan’s killing?
Actually, the alleged motive behind the killing of Morgan has been often advanced as the link to the prom night killings. Morgan apparently stole drugs and/or money from Holmes who allegedly helped supervise drug sales in Huntington neighborhoods and ran a crack house.
The theory being bandied about by police officials at the time of the teen killings was that they simply “were in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Other speculation focused on the idea that one of the teens may have been a target and the others just happened to be at the house when the shooter(s) arrived. One of the victims, Dante Ward, had been shot at several months prior to his killing. He escaped serious injury in that incident.
But what impact could the seemingly confident testimony of the witness have on the unsolved case? Apparently he’s been questioned before by law enforcement. Did he drop his verbal bombshell on purpose to help Holmes or was he that sure in speaking about events in 2004-2005?
One part of his testimony intrigues. The comment “I was there.” Does that mean he was present when the offer to kill Morgan came down or was he also present when an order to kill other teens was discussed?
Holmes has been charged as an accessory before the fact in the killing of Ms. Morgan whose body was found in the 500 block of Fifth Street. She perished from bullet wounds.
The witness, Larry Clark, has been clean for more than a year according to his testimony. He portrays himself as someone who has learned the dangers of drugs, kicked the habit, and now wants to help rid the city of the plague.
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