The Nebraska Court of Appeals today (Tuesday) upheld the conviction of a man in the suffocation death of his former girlfriend.

Charles Relford was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for the death of Garyanna Byars.

Her body was discovered August 15th, 1999, at a Bellevue group home where she worked.

The case took almost three years to come to trial. That's because defense attorneys twice persuaded the trail judge to suppress statements Relford made after waiving his right to an attorney.

The appeals court said Relford was not denied a speedy trial and that there was sufficient evidence to convict him.

The court also rejected arguments that his sentence was excessive, among other things.