CLAYTON COUNTY, GA – Hannah Payne, a 24-year-old woman from Georgia, was sentenced on Friday to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the fatal shooting of 62-year-old Kenneth Herring. Clayton County Superior Court Judge Jewel C. Scott ordered the life sentence along with an additional consecutive 13-year term, totaling a minimum of 43 years before parole eligibility.
The sentencing follows a five-day trial that culminated in Payne’s conviction. The jury found her guilty of all charges, including two counts of felony murder, three counts of possession of a weapon during a crime, and one count each of malice murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. The incident, which occurred in May 2019, was described as a botched citizen’s arrest following a hit-and-run incident after a motor vehicle crash.
During the hearing, Payne, who appeared emotional, was sentenced to consecutive eight and five-year terms for false imprisonment and firearm possession charges, respectively. The court heard victim impact statements from Herring’s family members, many of whom urged for a life sentence without parole.
Herring’s sister, Jacqueline Herring, expressed her grief and loss, comparing the finality of her brother’s death to the closing of his casket. Vickie Lynn Herring, another sister of the victim, lamented the irreversible loss of their big brother, emphasizing the impact on his grandchildren and children.