Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 26, 1990                   TAG: 9007260233
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE: COLONIAL HEIGHTS                                LENGTH: Medium

RELATIVES DESCRIBE HICKS AS KIND, FOND OF SURPRISES

"She was a lovely person, and Jim had high respect for her," Myrtis T. Hicks, Hicks' mother, testified.

Hicks was a thoughtful relative who would surprise family members with gifts such as small furniture items or flowers he had grown, cousin Ann Hudson testified.

"He just thought it would make them happy, I guess," Myrtis Hudson said.

Relatives described Hicks as a mild-mannered person who, as a boy, avoided fights and wouldn't go hunting.

"He wouldn't kill anything," Hicks' father, Jack, an Evington farmer, testified.

James Hicks, 44, of Evington, is being tried on a capital murder charge before a Campbell County Circuit Court judge. He has pleaded innocent.

Campbell Commonwealth's Attorney Neil Vener rested the case for the prosecution Tuesday afternoon.

During 4 1/2 days, Vener presented evidence that Hicks hired Reuben Gregory Barksdale, a petty thief and drug user, to bludgeon Hicks' wife, Lena, then make the death look like a car accident.

Barksdale testified that after the killing, Hicks said he was glad his wife was dead. " `It'll be the best birthday present she ever got,' " he testified Hicks told him.

Lena Hicks was killed on Jan. 8, her 45th birthday.

But defense witnesses Wednesday and Tuesday portrayed Hicks as a good family man who didn't drink, smoke or curse.

"I saw a horse kick him in the shoulder one time. He didn't curse the horse," testified Pam Hicks, the wife of James Hicks' brother.

She called Hicks a hard worker who balanced three careers - rebuilding and selling houses, farming cattle and horses and working full time as a Campbell visiting teacher, a job similar to truant officer.

Pam Hicks said she didn't find it unusual for Hicks to paint at a time of grief. "Painting and construction were his outlets," she testified.

Blood was found on the ceiling of the Hickses' garage, where Barksdale attacked Lena Hicks. Police expected to find blood on the walls, but Hicks painted the walls shortly after the killing.

Relatives said Hicks was devoted to his wife, and the two shared common interests such as antique furniture.

Defense attorneys says Hicks had no motive to kill his wife. They say Barksdale acted alone, then cooperated in Hicks' prosecution to save himself from the electric chair.

Barksdale, 29, has pleaded guilty to capital murder but has not been sentenced.

The case is being tried in Colonial Heights because of extensive news coverage in Campbell County.