Published: February 26, 2009 11:54 pm      

‘It was an accident’: Suspect denies murdering wife

BEDFORD — A Huntingdon County man pleaded innocent to all charges Thursday in the shotgun murder of his estranged wife outside an Everett-area McDonald’s.

John Lewis Gerholt, 38, faces the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder in the Nov. 9 death of Karen Marie Gerholt, 24, of Hopewell.

“It was an accident; my lawyer’s going to prove it,’’ Gerholt blurted out to the media as he entered the Bedford County Courthouse in handcuffs and shackles. “You just want to sell newspapers and tell lies.’’

Gerholt’s court-appointed attorney – Thomas Dickey of Altoona – agreed on the defense strategy.

“We can definitely show that the shooting was accidental,’’ he said after his client’s brief court arraignment.

Dickey said he would not get into specifics at this time.

Citing aggravating circumstances in the case, District Attorney Bill Higgins is seeking capital punishment.

He said Gerholt was under a protection-from-abuse order that aimed to keep him away from his wife. And Higgins has said that prior PFA violations made it illegal for Gerholt to carry a firearm.

Dickey said he plans in the next few weeks to seek court approval to hire ballistics experts and investigators.

Karen Gerholt was shot as she took a break from her job and stood by her car outside the restaurant.

Authorities said John Gerholt walked up to her and fired two shots from a 12-gauge shotgun.

He faces numerous counts including homicide, illegal gun possession, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment.

Judge Daniel Howsare said the trial would be scheduled for the court term beginning April 21.