Friday 2:40pm
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The jury in the murder trial of Cherylethia “Bunny” Holmes has her found her guilty with mercy.

Holmes has been convicted of ordering the murder of Wendy Morgan four years ago. She's charged with accessory before the fact to murder. Holmes now faces life in prison with mercy. She will be eligible for parole in 24 years.

Following the verdict Holmes told the court: “I understand I made mistakes in my life, but I never ordered harm to anyone. I can’t take back the past and decisions other made. I didn’t order them to harm no woman”

“I don’t understand I how you can find me guilty for a crime I didn’t commit.”

Holmes was sentenced following the verdict.

The jury got the case about 11:15am Friday, following closing arguments by both attorneys. The jury broke for a one hour lunch before returning with its verdict around 2:20 Friday afternoon.

Before recessing, they requested the transcript of Cedeal Harper's testimony from 2 years ago. The judge denied the request since it was not part of the evidence in this case.

Thursday afternoon, Holmes took the stand in her own defense and denied the charges.

Cedeal Harper and Rafelle Harris have already been found guilty in Morgan’s death. During their trials, Harper and Harris said that Holmes ordered them to do it because Morgan stole drugs from the pair.

Thursday 5:00pm
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- It’s the third day of testimony in the trial of Cherylethia “Bunny” Holmes. Holmes is accused of ordering the murder of Wendy Morgan four years ago.

Thursday afternoon, Holmes took the stand in her own defense. Her hour-long testimony came as a surprise for many people. Holmes said she had nothing to do with the death of Morgan.

Holmes was the last witness for the defense, and probably the most dramatic. With many tears, she answered questions from her attorney and during cross-examination by Prosecutor Chris Chiles. She said the eleven people who testified against her lied.

"I have never in my whole life caused or put anyone in harms way, and right now I’m sitting here fighting for my life," Holmes said.

Later when Chris Chiles cross-examined Holmes she got so emotional she couldn’t finish her sentence and had to take a moment to regroup.

NewsChannel 3's Dave Benton reports from court that "Bunny" took the stand in her own defense when court resumed shortly after 1pm.

She testified that she never ordered the hit on Wendy Morgan. She also testified that it wasn't her dope that Wendy took, that it belonged to c.

She also said she is fighting for her life. She said people have her labeled as a big time dealer, but she said she only had $20 in rocks. She said that's not a big time dealer.

Benton reports that "Bunny" broke down during cross examination by the prosecution.

Following "Bunny's" testimony, the defense rested its case. Closing arguments are set to begin Friday morning. The case will then go to the jury.

Thursday morning, the defense called two witnesses-Mark Matthews and Heather Davis.

Matthews says he never heard "Bunny" say she wanted Wendy killed.

And Davis told the court she led the killers to Wendy, but never knew what was going to happen.

Holmes is accused of having Wendy Morgan killed. The crime happened on 5th street in Huntington back July 2004.

Cedeal Harper and Rafelle Harris have already been found guilty in Morgan’s death. During their trials, Harper and Harris said that Holmes ordered them to do it because Morgan stole drugs from the pair.

Investigators and prosecutors have said Holmes was responsible for running a local drug operation for a man out of Detroit.

Holmes has denied the charges.

Harris, who is a witness for the prosecution, took the stand around 1:15pm Wednesday afternoon and testified for about 30 minutes.

He told the court that Holmes told him to kill Morgan and in his own words to "mess her up."

Harris testified that Harper fired the first shot but then froze. He said he then grabbed the gun and fired two more shots.

Harris said he was paid 4.5 ounces of crack cocaine. He said both men then fled to Detroit.

Cedeal Harper was then called to testify, but he refused. The judge then allowed the prosecution to use his testimony from his own trial 2 years ago. He now says he lied on the stand 2 years ago about "Bunny" telling him to kill Wendy Morgan.

The state's first witness Wednesday morning was John Pinkney. He told the court he used to be the errand boy and somewhat of security guard for the drug house.

The prosecution also had a forensic investigator on the stand talking about details of the murder.

The state is expected to wrap up its case Thursday. The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to last about a week.

Holmes is currently serving an 8 year federal prison sentence on drugs and weapon charges.

Holmes didn't appear to be her typical happy self this morning when she came into the courtroom. She wouldn't answer any questions and she looked a little emotional. She actually cried at one point during the prosecutor's opening statements.

Wendy Morgan's mother took the witness stand first and told the court how scared her daughter was after she stole money and drugs from Holmes and Cedeal Harper.

State witness Larry Clark, an admitted former drug addict, testified Holmes offered him $1500 to kill Wendy Morgan back in 2004.

Clark then followed that statement by saying, "I have no doubt in my mind she ordered four other kids murders in this town."

Shortly after the statements, the judge pulled the jury from the courtroom. After a recess, the judge chose not to declare a mistrial, but ordered that statement to be stricken from the official record of the trial. This was done because she is on trial only for allegedly having Wendy Morgan killed, not the quadruple murder.

In May 2005, Megan Poston, Eddrick Clark, Michael Dillon and Dante Ward were shot and killed on prom night. The murders remain unsolved to this day. However, members of those victims' families have been following Holmes in court. They believe she may have information about their children's deaths.

Bunny Holmes has pleaded not guilty to felony accessory before the fact to murder in the situation with Wendy Morgan.

Bunny Holmes is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for violating federal drug trafficking and weapon violations.