Payne v. State

Jordan, Chief Justice.

Joseph Leslie Payne was convicted by a jury in Cobb County for the murder of twenty-two month old Caleb Joseph Reynolds, the son of Julia Reynolds, his live-in lover, who later, before trial, was to become his wife. After being sentenced to life imprisonment, he appeals. We affirm.

1. Three theories were pursued by the defense. First, the *355defense asserted that although Caleb’s father, Tim, had legal custody, and Caleb’s mother, Julia, had visitation rights, Caleb’s physical custody often had been exchanged between his mother and her live-in lover, the defendant, on the…