TIFTON — The highest court in the state has upheld the conviction of a Tifton man for a 2007 murder in Tift County.

Layton Kiev Lester argued the Georgia Supreme Court should overturn his conviction in the death of his great-aunt, Lorrine Bozeman, because a lower trial court had allowed statements he made to law enforcement after her death to be admitted into court, according to the high court’s opinion issued Monday.

Lester also argued there should have been a declaration of mistrial because an alternate juror was present during jury deliberations,

The state supreme court turned down both arguments.

Lester, 15 at the time of his arrest, was charged with felony murder and armed robbery. He was tried as an adult in 2009 and sentenced to life in prison on the murder charge, plus 20 years for armed robbery, 20 years for burglary and five years for possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, the opinion said.

Lorrine Bozeman, who was 66 at the time of her death, lived on Collins Street. Bozeman was found dead of a gunshot wound April 29, 2007, in what appeared to be a home invasion robbery, according to past news coverage.