MERCER COUNTY Convicted murderer files second appeal

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court turned down an appeal Fuller filed last year.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
MERCER, Pa. -- Convicted murderer Ronald Fuller had his bid for a new trial denied by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court a year ago, but he's filed a new appeal.
Fuller, 27, of Emerson Avenue, Farrell, was convicted of first-degree murder, burglary, possession of a prohibited offensive weapon and possession of an instrument of crime in the May 29, 1999, shotgun slaying of Jeremy Farrand, 13, at Farrand's Prindle Street, Sharon, home.
Fuller was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
He appealed that conviction last year, basing his argument on an allegation that the prosecution knowingly used perjured testimony at his trial.
Judge Michael Wherry, the presiding judge in the case, denied the appeal, as did the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which handed down a one-sentence ruling against Fuller in July 2002.
James Epstein, Mercer County district attorney, said Fuller is back with another appeal, this time seeking to overturn his conviction on the allegation that his defense attorney at the time, Wayne Hundertmark of Venango County, mishandled his case.
Appeals process
The new appeal was to be heard by Judge Wherry on Monday but has been continued to Sept. 18.
If it is rejected, Fuller can again appeal that decision to the Supreme Court.
Should he lose again there, he has the right to attempt to persuade a federal appeals court that his constitutional rights were violated in his prosecution. That would be his final appeal in the case, Epstein said.
Farrand died of a single shotgun blast to the neck as he walked from the living room to the kitchen of his home to investigate a noise at the back door about 1 a.m. May 29.
Authorities said Fuller was the gunman and that he had gone to the Farrand home seeking revenge against Lindsey Lowe II of Logan Avenue, Sharon, who he believed was staying there.
Lowe had implicated a friend of Fuller's in an armed robbery case. Fuller went to the Farrand house planning to silence Lowe, authorities said.
Lowe wasn't staying at the residence at the time of the slaying, however, authorities said.
gwin@vindy.com