From [HERE] A federal judge in Mississippi has awarded $2.2 million to the children of a woman who was slain by a former Oxford police officer.

Judge Glen Davidson called off Thursday’s hearing in the civil case against former Oxford police officer Matthew Kinne after he said he heard enough to make a key decision in the massive lawsuit.

The judge said he would make his decision based in part on the family’s written testimony.

Kinne was being sued by the family of Dominique Clayton after pleading guilty to her murder. Clayton’s family was seeking more than $10 million dollars in damages. 

Court records state Kinne is liable for compensatory damages of $1.2 million — or $300,000 to each of Clayton’s surviving children– plus $1 million in punitive damages.

Most, if not all, of that money would go to Clayton’s four children, who suffered deep emotional scars and may need years of therapy following their mother’s death.

Kinne pleaded guilty to the capital murder of Clayton last July and was sentenced to life without parole. Kinne murdered 32-year-old Dominique Clayton who was found with a gunshot wound in the back of her head while she was asleep in her bed.

The complaint states as follows:

At all times relevant, Defendant Officer Kinne, a married man and father of two, was a peace officer for the Oxford Police Department.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that prior to Defendant Officer Kinne joining the OPD, Officer Kinne was employed at another law enforcement agency within

the State of Mississippi.
I1. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that during Defendant Officer

Kinne's employment with his former employer, Defendant Kinne's then wife died of from

suspicious circumstances.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, initially Defendant Officer Kinne was identified as a person of interest [n the death of his then=wife.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, ultimately, it was determined that Defendant Officer Kinne's then=wife died of"suicide."

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, although Defendant Officer

Kinne was not formally charged with the murder of his then=wife, the law enforcement agency who employed Defendant Officer Kinne conducted an internal investigation, and informed Kinne that based upon their findings if he did not resign, his employment what this law enforcement agency would be terminated.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, following Defendant Officer Kinne's forced resignation with this law enforcement agency, he applied for a position as a police officer with the OPD.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, in addition, Defendant Officer Kinne re=married and eventually had two children with his current wife. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that the OPD, under the control of the City of Oxford, during its review of Defendant Officer Kinne's application, the OPD received his personnel file from his former law enforcement agency.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, during their review of Defendant Officer Kinne's personnel file, the OPD had become aware that he was forced to resign from his previous employer, based upon its investigation and determinations pertaining to the suspicious death of Defendant Officer Kinne's then-wife.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, despite being aware of the fact that Defendant Officer Kinne would likely violate the constitutional rights of another person, based upon the information included in his personnel file, Defendants Chief Mucutchem and the City authorized the hiring of Defendant Officer Kinne.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, during Defendant Officer Kinne's employment with the OPD he was described as introverted, he made very few friends, and often kept to himself.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, at some point during his employment with OPD, Officer Kinne met Decedent Dominique Clayton.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that Defendant Officer Kinne and Decedent Clayton eventually became involved in an extramarital affair.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that as the affair continued on, Defendant Officer Kinne and Decedent Clayton's romantic relationship had become more and more serious.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that at some point during the relationship Decedent Clayton began to demand that Defendant Officer Kinne fully commit to her.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that, although Defendant Officer Kinne shared these mutual feelings, he was unable to do so because he could not leave his family.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that Defendant Officer Kinne's unwillingness to fully commit to Decedent Clayton was very difficult for her, often causing her to have emotional swings ranging from anger to great sorrow.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that on the evening of May 18, 2019, while Defendant Officer Kinne was patrolling the town square, he encountered Decedent Clayton as she was leaving a bar.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that during this encounter, he and Decedent Clayton had engaged in an argument over their relationship.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that Defendant Officer Kinne's wife had become suspicious that he may be engaged in an extramarital affair.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that Defendant Officer Kinne offered to escort Defendant to her vehicle, which she accepted.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that Decedent Clayton was very upset and very sad following her encounter with Defendant Officer Kinne.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that Defendant Officer Kinne stayed on the phone with Decedent Clayton during her drive to her home, and after she made it inside.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that Officer Kinne, who was not at the OPD horse barn, became concerned as Decedent Clayton became unresponsive during their call.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that due to Defendant Officer Kinne's concern, he decided to due a welfare check to make sure she was ok.

Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges that in or around the early hours of May 19, 2019, Defendant Officer Kinne drove to Decedent's residence in his OPD squad car, dressed in his uniform.

Upon arriving at Decedent Clayton's home, Defendant Officer Kinne pulled into her driveway.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that a neighbor of Decedent Clayton who was outside having a smoke at the time, witnessed Defendant Officer Kinne pull up in his squad car and in uniform, and on that basis believed that Defendant Officer Kinne was visiting the residence on official police business.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that by Defendant Officer Kinne inconspicuously arriving at Decedent's home in uniform and in his squad car, he did intend to portray to the public that he was acting in his official capacity as an OPD Officer. 39. Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendant Officer Kinne entered into Decedent Clayton's home through an unlocked side door, for the purpose of effectuating a welfare check.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Decedent had simply fallen asleep.

Plaintiff does not have facts sufficient at this time as to describe the interaction between Decedent Clayton and Defendant Officer Kinne during the time in which he entered into her home.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendant Kinne briefly exited Decedent Clayton's home and moved his squad car from her driveway.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that eventually Officer Kinne returned back inside.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that because Officer Kinne was still dressed in his uniform and portraying to the public that he was not an intruder but instead engaged in lawful police activity, permitting him to enter into the home without causing the neighbor to draw any suspicions.

Plaintiff does not have facts sufficient at this time as to describe the interaction between Decedent Clayton and Defendant Officer Kinne upon him returning back inside her home.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that for reasons unknown, Defendant Officer Kinne fired a single shot to Decedent Clayton's head, taking her life.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that Defendant Kinne returned back to the OPD horse barn following the shooting.

At approximately I:00 or 2:00 pm later that day (May 19, 2019), Clayton was discovered deceased by her 8-year old son, .ladarious Clayton.

Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that similar to Defendant Officer Kinne's former wife's suspicious death, Defendant Officer Kinne and his supporters,

including but not limited to Officer Darren Gibbs, began to spread the story that Decedent's death was a a suicide.

At all relevant times, the individual Defendants were working in their official capacities.