CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A 22-year-old woman accused of shooting and killing a man who drove away from the scene of an accident has been denied bond after a dramatic 911 call of the incident was played in court Friday.
Channel 2 Action News was the only news station in the courtroom when a judge ruled Hannah Payne will stay in jail despite requests from her lawyers to reinstate a $100,000 bond.
Payne was originally released, but was rearrested when a grand jury brought more charges.
Police said 62-year-old Kenneth Herring hit a truck in May, causing minor damage. He waited at the scene initially but was disoriented and drove off, according to police.
Channel 2's Tom Jones saw Payne and her mother breaking down in tears as a 911 call of Payne confronting Herring was played for a judge.
Payne claimed Herring was drunk, but prosecutors said no drugs or alcohol were found in the victim's system.
A judge denied bond for the woman accused of murdering a man after a hit and run. We also heard the 911 call where you hear her ordering the victim out of the car. You will hear it only on Channel 2 tonight at 5. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/dOsS63lpEU
— Tom Jones (@TomJonesWSBTV) July 12, 2019
Police said Payne called 911, followed Herring, then blocked him in and shot him when he refused to get out of the car.
In the 911, you can hear her screaming at the victim.
"Get out of the car! I said, get out of the car!" Payne screams at Herring in the recording.
The recording captures a scuffle before Payne claims Herring shot himself with her gun.
"He just pulled the trigger on the gun in my hand!" Payne screams.
"Ma'am, you were not supposed to follow him," the dispatcher said.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Woman accused of killing man who left accident scene cries as 911 call played
- Dramatic body camera video captures deputy saving choking 12-day-old baby's life
- Marietta officer saves Georgia couple from drowning on Florida vacation
John Fowler, the Clayton County interim district attorney, said Payne murdered the victim.
"Instead of complying with law enforcement, this defendant directly disobeyed law enforcement, resulting in (Herring's) death."
Police said Payne witnessed Herring hitting a truck and later leaving the scene. She called 911.
"OK ma'am, we ask you not to chase him," the dispatcher says. "We want you to be safe.
Payne got Herring's tag number and ignored the dispatcher's request.
"He is drunk. I'm not. I'm sorry, but I'm here to tell you I'm not not going to follow him because he is going to cause an accident," Payne said to the dispatcher.
Fowler said Herring had a medical emergency and wasn't drunk.
"It was confirmed by our toxicology that he had nothing, no drugs or alcohol in his system."
The judge denied Payne bond after listening to the recording.
Herring's sister didn't buy claims that he pulled the trigger.
"I think that's hard to believe," Vickie Herring said.
Payne will stay in jail pending trial.
Cox Media Group
