Hannah Payne, the 25-year-old woman convicted in the death of Kenneth Herring, a 62 year old Black man, in Clayton County, Ga. will face life behind bars with the chance of parole.

Judge Jewell C. Scott delivered the sentence Wednesday (Dec. 13.). Payne was visibly emotional as she stood in her prison uniform, handcuffed, per Fox 5 Atlanta.

The Clayton County jury previously found Payne guilty of felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and three charges related to weapons possession. The conviction came after the court heard poignant statements from Herring's family, who urged the judge to impose a life sentence.

Vickie Lynn Herring, Kenneth's youngest sister, emotionally expressed the profound impact of her brother's loss. "I no longer have a big brother. His grandchildren won't know him. He has two children who don't have a father anymore. There were six of us. Now there's the five of us that are left," she shared.  

Jaquerlyn Herring, another sister, fondly remembered her brother as someone who would playfully boss around his siblings. “Where he got death without parole. I would like for her to have life without parole,” she added. 

Reana Novotny, a friend of the Paynes, spoke in defense of Hannah, sharing the emotional struggles she has faced, especially while dealing with cancer in her family. Despite the national attention the case garnered, Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley clarified that she doesn’t believe the murder was race-related. 

Mosley deemed the sentence a victory, emphasizing that even with the possibility of parole, Payne would still have to serve at least 43 years.

Following the sentencing, Mosley revealed that her office is investigating multiple death threats against both families involved in the trial. The intensity of these threats prompted an official inquiry to identify and prosecute those responsible.

During the trial, prosecutors accused Payne of assuming a law enforcement role in 2019, chasing and eventually shooting Herring after he left the scene of a crash. Payne claimed self-defense, asserting that Herring attacked her. She took the stand during the trial, detailing the events that led to the fatal encounter, including her belief that a state officer instructed her to follow Herring.

Despite Payne's testimony, the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict on all counts after just two hours of deliberation. The case has drawn considerable attention, not only for its legal implications but also for the complexities surrounding the events leading to Herring's tragic death.