High court won't hear murder case appeal

Tim Williams may have run out of appeals.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal filed by Williams, who is serving a prison term in the murder of Kane Borough Police officer Steve Jerman on Feb. 20, 1999.

The prosecutor, McKean County District Attorney John Pavlock, said he believes the high court's action should serve as the final chapter in a long legal process.

Jerman was killed after he pulled over a car being driven through Kane in the early morning hours. Williams, 27, has claimed he was too intoxicated to remember what happened next. He had a blood alcohol level of .18 percent.

Williams suffered a wound to the throat in the exchange of gunfire. He was convicted of third-degree murder. Williams has been represented in the appeal process by attorney Sam Stretton of West Chester.

In his appeal, Williams contended that one of two back seat passengers at the time of the killing was overheard multiple times boasting that she was the shooter.

"We're pleased that, after the many, many claims by the defense were fully litigated and tested, every court that has addressed this issue has determined that the initial verdict in this case should not be disturbed," Pavlock said.

Williams is serving a sentence of 22 to 47 years at the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon.