Rhianna Benson
A woman in Georgia has been found guilty after a hit-and-run back in 2019 resulted in a murder.
The victim, a 62-year-old man named Kenneth Herring, had hit a car and driven off before another driver, Hannah Payne, followed him away from the scene, having ignored repeated 911 orders to leave the situation to the authorities.
Prosecutors said that Clayton County-born Payne, 25, then confronted Herring before shooting him.
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Her defense attorneys claimed, however, that Payne was told by officers at the time to follow Herring in order to get his licence plate number.
They also alleged that he fatally shot himself by accident during a struggle with Payne over the gun she possessed.
After appearing in court over the matter, she was this week convicted of chasing Herring down and shooting him.
Payne faced charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
According to Channel 2 reporter Tom Jones, she'd sobbed as she was led away from court in handcuffs, with the trial having first commenced last week.
Herring's family later admitted they were relieved to discover that she had been found guilty on all counts.
His sister, Jacqueline Herring, said: "When I heard the first verdict tears started rolling down my face because at that moment I felt relief."
Jacqueline and the rest of her family watched the jury foreman tell the court judge that they'd reached a unanimous verdict.
"With regard to count one, as to the offence of Malice Murder, we the jury find the defendant guilty," they said.
The jury went on to find Payne guilty on all counts.
Herring's family also said that Payne got what she deserve, particularly after claiming that he'd taken the gun and pulled the trigger himself.
"I think it’s selfish to blame the victim when you were the aggressor," his other sister, Vickie, confessed following the verdict.
His brother, Keith Herring, also insisted he'd never forget the moment he received the call tell him his brother had died.
"It will forever be ingrained in my heart and in my mind," he said.
A hearing which will see Payne receive a sentence for her crimes has been set for tomorrow (December 15).
