Hannah Payne, a 25-year-old woman, was convicted of chasing and fatally shooting 62-year-old Kenneth Herring. During her trial, Payne faced a slew of charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, with the jury finding her guilty on all counts.
The defense maintained that Payne was merely trying to get Herring’s license plate number as instructed, which led to her following him. They argued that the fatal shot was accidentally fired by Herring during a tussle for the gun.
VERDICT DETAILS:
- Count 1, Malice Murder: Guilty
- Count 2, Felony Murder: Guilty
- Count 3, Aggravated Assault: Guilty
- Count 4, Felony Murder: Guilty
- Count 5, False Imprisonment: Guilty
- Counts 6, 7, 8, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony: Guilty
Jury deliberations, which began around 4:50 p.m., concluded just before 7 p.m. During closing statements, Payne’s attorney emphasized that she was not a killer and questioned the certainty of who actually triggered the gun. He described Payne as a young woman who, with good intentions, found herself in a dire situation.
Conversely, the prosecution portrayed Payne as the sole aggressor, acting with malice in pursuing and confronting Herring. They highlighted the entitlement and audacity involved in her actions and her attempt to shift the blame during her testimony.
Payne, who took the stand on Monday, claimed she aimed to assist the police when she approached Herring’s vehicle, despite being advised against it by a 911 operator.
The jury also heard two 911 calls made by Payne during the incident, which occurred on May 7. The prosecution stated that Payne followed Herring after witnessing him commit a traffic violation and flee the scene, ignoring dispatcher instructions not to engage.
Payne’s sentencing is set for this Friday.
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