Payne v. State

OPINION

O’CONNER, J.

A jury found Stanley Payne, the appellant, guilty of murder and assessed punishment at five years confinement. We reverse and remand.

Background

The appellant owned an agency that provided care to nursing home patients. Virgie Moore, who owned Moorehaven Personal Care Home, hired the appellant’s agency. The complainant, Michael Moore, was Virgie’s son and an employee of the appellant’s agency. On October 25, 1996, the appellant fired Michael. The next day, Michael, the appellant, and the appellant’s fiancee, Joanna Williams, were arguing in the hallway of Moorehaven, possibly…