Woman guilty in death of Missouri man she accused of assault

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(AP) – A 27-year-old Springfield woman was convicted of
second-degree murder in a death that occurred after she told friends the victim had sexually assaulted her.A Greene County jury found Kearstain Sleeth guilty of second-degree murder
Wednesday for her role in 31-year-old Curtis Payne’s death.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Payne was killed in February 2014 after Sleeth told friends he had assaulted her. Prosecutors say after she drove the three teenagers to Payne’s house, they broke in shot Payne while Sleeth waited outside.

Prosecutors argued Sleeth was guilty of murder even though she didn’t directly participate in the shooting.

Sleeth’s attorney argued during the trial that she was a victim because of the violence against her.

Two of the teens have pleaded guilty and the third is scheduled for trial in February.

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