A former Erie school teacher will not be freed from jail for a 1975 homicide of one of his students.

Raymond Payne, who is now 83 years old, heard the results of a degree-of-guilt hearing before Erie County Judge Daniel Brabender Wednesday morning.

Brabender ruled that the death of Debbie Gama at Payne's handswas an intentional first-degree killing. Gama was 16 years old at the time of her murder. 

Payne received a new degree-of-guilt hearing after a ruling by the Pennsylvania Superior Court last year.

Payne argued that the death was accidental and Gama hanged herself while posing for bondage photos Payne was taking. Brabender said Payne's explanation of the death was "pure fiction".

Gama's family is relieved that another court proceeding is over four decades after their loved one's death.

"I am so happy," said Gama's mother Betty Ferguson after Wednesday's ruling. "I feel so free. This is the beginning of the end. He did it. He killed her. I have to face that. But...I'm free."