Mississippi girlfriend murderer loses appeal to state Court of Appeals

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The state Court of Appeals has upheld the murder conviction and life sentenced handed a Plantersville man in 2007 for the murder of his estranged girlfriend.Bernard Young, who did not testify at his Lee County trial, has maintained that he didn't kill Tamara Neil.

Neil was shot three times and her body was found in her car on June 26, 2006, on Mississippi Highway 6 between Tupelo and Plantersville.She was the mother of Young's two children.

Prosecutors say Young followed Neil around Tupelo on the morning of her death. They say Young blocked the victim's car at the Plantersville city limits sign and fired five shots at her.The Appeals Court on Tuesday rejected Young's claims.