A Hall County Superior Court judge denied Joseph Scott Williams’ motion for a new trial for a 2013 fatal shooting outside of Peppers Market in Gainesville.

Williams, 34, was convicted June 26, 2014, for shooting Adrian Thompson outside of the Gainesville store. He received a life prison sentence without the chance of parole.

Williams and counsel filed a motion for new trial on July 24, 2014.

In previous court filings, attorney R. Allen Hunt claimed trial attorney Travis Williams was impaired before and during the trial. Travis Williams vehemently denied the allegation.

“Anybody that would make that unfounded and false accusation against somebody lacks professionalism,” Travis Williams previously said to The Times.

Northeastern Judicial Circuit Public Defender Brad Morris and Assistant Public Defender Rose Priddy appeared at the new trial hearing, testifying to Travis Williams’ work ethic and the implausibility of impairment.

Judge Jason Deal signed the order to deny the new trial Dec. 23.