NORFOLK, Va. — A man has been found guilty of killing 84-year-old James Carter, a beloved Norfolk convenience store worker, back in 2023.
Although Bruce Hisle was initially charged with first-degree murder, a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, as well as felony murder, on Thursday.
Hisle’s attorney says it's not the verdict that he wanted, but he is relieved he wasn't convicted of first-degree.
Carter's granddaughter says she believes justice was served when the jury handed down the verdict.
"It's been really tough. It's been a long time coming, a lot of disappointment, a lot of delays, but today was the day we needed as a family," said Breonna Carter.
The jury's verdict marks the end of the three-day trial. Hisle's sentencing will be held on November 21 at 11 a.m.
News 3 has been following this story since December 20, 2023: the day police say Carter was shot and killed outside the Triple C Convenience store on Lindenwood Avenue. Carter’s children said he had run the shop since they were young.
During the trial, prosecutors and the defense went back and forth on whether Bruce's brother, Dennis, should be compelled to testify.
Watch previous coverage: Suspect's brother held in contempt after being called to testify in murder trial
The brother was expected to plead the Fifth, meaning he would refuse to testify in order not to incriminate himself.
Dennis Hisle was originally charged with Carter's murder, but prosecutors eventually decided to charge his brother, Bruce, instead.
In court Wednesday, immediately upon entering the courtroom, Dennis said he wanted to plead the Fifth. The judge ordered him to be sworn in first and then plead the Fifth, but Dennis refused multiple times to be sworn in. The judge declared him to be in contempt and gave him a sentence of 12 months.
After that, prosecutors called several police officers, detectives, forensic experts and a medical examiner. The final witness of the day was Tamika Credle.
Watch related: Trial begins for man accused of killing Norfolk Triple C store clerk
She was charged with being an accessory in this case and was sentenced in March 2025. Prosecutors argued she was driving the van, she and the two Hisle brothers were in, at the time of the shooting.
Credle also pleaded the Fifth in court Wednesday. She entered the plea in response to the prosecutors' first question to her. They asked how she was getting around at the time of the shooting.
The judge allowed her plea to stand. Credle was then excused and left the courtroom.
Prosecutors then asked for her to be declared an unavailable witness so part of a phone conversation she had in jail could be used instead of her testimony. Bruce's attorney argued that the recording is not admissible because what she says in the recording is speculation or hearsay.
The judge was expected to decide on Thursday whether the recording was admissible or not.
