AUGUSTA $ A Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that convicted killer Shannon Atwood will not get a new trial in the murder of his girlfriend Cheryl Murdoch in 2006.

In doing so, Justice Nancy Mills scolded the defense attorney for suggesting that she was anything but fair and impartial when she declared Atwood, 38, guilty of murder in July.

"The allegations that the court acted improperly and based its judgment on an incorrect use of evidence and on impermissible, prejudicial knowledge are false, regrettable and contrary to the record," Mills said, at one point raising her eyes from the printed text of her statement to look at Skowhegan lawyer John Alsop who is representing Atwood.

"The court takes these allegations very seriously, not only because they impugn the court, but because they impugn the criminal justice system and the public's belief that the system works and because the allegations raise a doubt in Mr. Atwood's mind as to whether he received a fair trial."