The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday declined to hear an appeal from Zachary Conner, who was convicted in 2005 for his role in the robbery and murder of a Vicksburg man.

The state Court of Appeals upheld Conner’s conviction in May.

Prosecutors said Conner was angry after Christopher Cage won $240 in a dice game. Cage was found shot to death on a Vicksburg street in 2004.

According to the court record, two witnesses testified they saw Conner shoot Cage and run away.

Conner was sentenced to life in prison, 20 years for armed robbery and five years for shooting into an occupied dwelling.

Prosecutors said Conner shot Cage, robbed Cage of his wallet and fired a bullet intended for Cage which passed through the front door of a Vicksburg home.

On appeal, Conner said the evidence in the case didn’t support his conviction.

The Appeals Court said prosecutors had eyewitnesses to Conner shooting Cage even though some of the witnesses may have also been charged in relation to Cage’s death. The court said it was up to the jury to decide whether to believe the witnesses.