Judge Don Poole, in a 47-page ruling, has declined to reopen the case in which Marlon Duane Kiser was convicted in the slaying of Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy Donald Bond.
Kiser, who earlier told the judge to "either exonerate me or kill me," remains on Death Row.
In a hearing on the Kiser petition, a woman testified that it was Mike Chattin - and not his roommate Kiser - who killed Deputy Bond at a produce stand in East Brainerd in 2001.
Kimberly Annette Bowman called Kiser, who is in the middle of an extended post-conviction hearing, "an innocent man." She said, "I've had this burden on me all these years." She said it partly was the cause for a stroke in 2008 that initially left her paralyzed on one side and unable to speak.
The witness said she did not tell the truth when she testified at the trial in 2003 in which Kiser was convicted in the officer slaying.
She told Judge Poole that it has been on her conscience ever since, including for the decade she spent in federal prison on meth charges.
Ms. Bowman said prior to the officer slaying that Chattin, who has since died, was concerned that his wife, Tina, was having an affair. She said he first said it was with a Sonic employee, then later said it was with a police officer.
She said soon after the Bond slaying that Chattin came hurrying up to her, rubbing his hands. She said she asked, "My God, Mike, what's wrong with you?"
The witness said Chattin said, "I shot that --- --- police officer."
She said Chattin went in to talk to her live-in boyfriend at the time, Greg Drake. She said they went out on the porch, but she could hear because she turned up their intercom system. She said she heard Chattin say, "I got rid of that --- --- police officer. I shot him."
Ms. Bowman said she was at the Walmart parking lot on Highway 153 soon after the Bond slaying when "a horrible-looking, big motorcycle dude" confronted her. She said he told her that she and her kids would be killed if she told on Chattin.
She said she only met Kiser one time and he "was very sweet and polite."
Under questioning by District Attorney Neal Pinkston, Ms. Bowman said she was heavy into crystal meth at the time of her dealings with Chattin. She said she would snort it 5-6 times a day. She said meth makes you feel good and energetic, but also makes you paranoid.
She said it can also mess up your memory, but she said she can still recall "traumatic" events.
Lisa Gray, a former girlfriend of Chattin, testified that she had suspicions that Chattin killed Deputy Bond.
Judge Poole, in his ruling, said he "was not reasonably well satisfied with the veracity of Ms. Bowman's testimony."
He also said the "suspicions" of Ms. Gray did not rise to the level calling for a new trial.