People v. Payton

Following a jury trial, defendant Jean Payton was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. On appeal, defendant contends that: (1) the trial court improperly instructed the jury regarding first degree murder and precluded the jury from considering the offense of second degree murder; (2) the trial court provided an improper response to the jury’s question regarding the elements of first degree murder; (3) her conviction for first degree murder was improper where the offense of aggravated battery was insufficient to support a felony murder conviction; (4) the…