The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled an inmate challenging his murder conviction has no further right to appeal.
David Lee was serving time in the state penitentiary for a robbery conviction when prosecutors say he killed his cell mate in 1998. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Lee requested habeas corpus in 2003. The court rejected that petition.
He twice more filed for habeas corpus, saying he received ineffective counsel in his first attempt.
Those cases were pending for over a decade until Thursday's Supreme Court ruling.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued a statement praising the court's decision.
“Twenty-five years of litigation is too long for a victim’s family and those involved in the litigation,” Jackley said. “Thank you to the court system, prosecutors and investigators that worked on this case for more than two decades.”