Murder suspect turns down plea offer

A Cape Girardeau murder suspect has turned down a plea offer, his lawyer reported Monday in court.

Steven Lee Williams, 35, faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the September shooting death of 38-year-old Darcus Purl.

Amy Commean, a public defender who is representing Williams in the case, on Monday told Circuit Judge William Syler that Williams had rejected a plea offer from assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff.

Commean did not mention any details about the offer or her client's reasons for turning it down, but she said the deal still is on the table, meaning Williams has the option of changing his mind and accepting it at some point before the case goes to trial.

Syler continued the case to allow time for depositions, which Commean said are scheduled for Sept. 5 and 13.

Reached by telephone, Woodruff, who was not in court Monday, said for ethical reasons, prosecutors cannot release the details of plea negotiations.

Williams pleaded not guilty to the charges in October. He is accused of shooting Purl to death after a Sept. 20 altercation near the corner of South Ranney Avenue and Locust Street.

At a preliminary hearing last year, Purl's girlfriend, Georgia Cowson, testified that she and Purl had gone outside to smoke about 9 p.m. when Williams came outside.

Cowson testified that Williams and Purl began shouting at each other before Williams "pulled out a gun and started shooting."

Williams chased the unarmed Purl until Purl fell in the street, at which point Williams "unloaded the clip into him," Cowson said in her testimony.

During the preliminary hearing, a Cape Girardeau police officer testified he had been on the way to the crime scene when someone in the 900 block of South Sprigg Street flagged him down and told him Williams had broken into a home.

Williams told the officer Purl and two other people had shot him, the officer testified. Williams was taken to a hospital and treated for gunshot wounds.

According to a probable-cause statement, Williams told police Purl was the aggressor, and that he was chased down and shot at by other people after the confrontation with Purl.

Williams remains in the Cape Girardeau County Jail on $2 million bond.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

South Ranney Avenue and Locust Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.