NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The brother of the man on trial for killing a popular store owner got into a standoff Wednesday morning with the judge and was held in contempt of court and sentenced to a year behind bars.

Bruce Hisle is on trial and has been charged with murder in the December 2023 shooting death of James Carter at his store on Lindenwood Avenue.

His brother, Dennis Hisle, was originally charged with killing Carter until last fall, when Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi announced that the evidence showed instead that Bruce Hisle should be the one tried for the killing.

Dennis Hisle’s plea agreement had him admit to two gun charges and he was sentenced to two years of active prison time, but the deal did not require him to testify.

Nonetheless, the prosecution called Dennis Hisle as a witness. He entered the courtroom in his jail jumpsuit and immediately looked at Judge Tasha Scott and said “I’m not testifying.”

Scott explained to him he has that right, but he first would have to be sworn in and invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege under oath. Hisle refused to take the oath. On her third attempt, Scott said, “I’m ordering you to take the oath. Are you refusing?” Hisle responded, “Yes.” That was when Scott held him in contempt and sentenced him to 12 months in jail.

The other original codefendant, Tamika Credle — the mother of Bruce Hisle’s children — invoked her Fifth Amendment right after taking the oath.

Earlier, Commonwealth experts testified on the gun evidence and the autopsy. The assistant medical examiner testified James Carter was shot in the left cheek, but the wound that likely killed him entered near his rib cage and severed a key artery.

Forensics experts testified that the 11 shell casings recovered from the sidewalk and grassy area directly across Lindenwood Avenue from the Triple C convenience store matched the 10mm gun believed to be the murder weapon. A bullet recovered during the autopsy of James Carter also matched that weapon.

The Springfield Armory XDM handgun was found in the glove compartment of a white Toyota Sienna van. All three suspects were arrested in the van that same night in December 2023.
Tamika Credle was driving that van.

Scott will determine whether Credle will have to testify Thursday morning.