LINCOLN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday against a Lincoln man convicted of a Grand Island murder.

Antoine Johnson, 38, was sentenced to prison for second-degree murder in the shooting death of Gary Zierke in May 2020. A jury determined that Johnson shot Zierke after a drug deal went bad.

Johnson had appealed his case twice, once to the state Court of Appeals and then to Hall County District Court. The appeal was dismissed in both cases.

Last year, Johnson appealed the District Court’s latest decision to the Court of Appeals. He maintained that his defense attorney did not adequately represent him. Among other things, Johnson claimed that his attorney failed to block damaging evidence and that his attorney failed to properly cross-examine witnesses.

Johnson also asserted that the District Court should have held an evidentiary hearing during his appeal.

In a decision issued Tuesday morning, the Court of Appeals denied Johnson’s arguments and upheld earlier decisions and his conviction for second-degree murder.

Johnson is serving 35 to 60 years in prison for Zierke’s murder.

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