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US judge rejects former Husker's conviction appeal

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska football player has lost a federal challenge to his Omaha murder conviction.

Thirty-four-year-old Thunder Collins had claimed that his constitutional rights were violated when the trial judge denied his motion for a new trial and to throw the case out before it went to the jury.

The Lincoln Journal Star says Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf ruled Wednesday that none of Collins' claims had merit.

Collins was convicted of murder and other crimes for the September 2008 slaying of a Los Angeles man during a botched drug deal. He also was sentenced to 90 to 110 years for attempted murder for shooting and injuring another California man, as well as other crimes.

Collins played running back for the Cornhuskers from 2000 to 2002.

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