Pinkston found guilty of murder in Father’s Day killing

Friday, Sept. 19, 1997 | 10:19 a.m.

The jury deliberated about five hours before reaching their decision. Pinkston could face life in prison with or without parole.

Pinkston's attorney, Patricia Erickson, had conceded during closing arguments Thursday that her client had fatally shot Greg Payne, but that the shooting was justified because Pinkston feared for her life.

That fear, Pinkston's other defense attorney, Laura Melia, argued, was based on Payne's past abuse, his repeated threats, a videotaped hand gesture that he was about to kill her and Payne's attempt to retrieve a gun from his truck.

But Deputy District Attorney Peggy Leen countered that Pinkston was the abusive one in their relationship. Leen said Pinkston's claims that Payne threatened her were fabricated, that the hand gesture indicated a wave goodbye, that the truck contained no gun and Payne never owned a gun.

"Barbara Pinkston is a desperate woman with a desperate defense," Leen said. "What she's done is what's been going around the country. The defendant claims the victim is the bad guy and the defendant is the victim. The victim is the one on trial."