JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Mississippi death row inmate Willie Jerome Manning's post-conviction claim could not be heard in the state courts because it was filed too late, a federal appeals court panel has ruled.

Manning was sentenced to death for the slayings of two Mississippi State University students.

An inmate argues in a post-conviction petition that he has found new evidence that could persuade a court to order a new trial.

A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals says Manning's case was final on April 5, 1999, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal.

Under state law, the panel says Manning had until April 5, 2000, to file a post-conviction claim but did nothing until Oct. 8, 2001 - too late to be considered.

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