High court rejects Williams' request

Pa. Supreme Court has turned down a request by Timothy Williams, formerly of Coudersport, for a new trial.

Williams was found guilty of third-degree murder for the 1999 shooting of Kane Police Officer Steve Jerman during an early-morning traffic stop.

His attorney, Samuel Stretton of West Chester, was seeking a new trial based on a claim that Becky Lucrezi Olson, also of Coudersport, told acquaintances she fired the fatal shot.

Pa. Superior Court had ruled the alleged statements by Olson were not grounds for a new trial. Supreme Court justices concurred.

Olson and Matt Seeley were in the back seat of the Williams car and were later given partial immunity to testify for the prosecution at Williams' trial.

Two women, Marian Nersinger and Michelle Nelson, were found guilty of perjury for testifying that they had overheard Olson confess to the crime. They were sentenced to three to 23 1/2 months in jail but are out on bail, awaiting the outcome of appeals.