LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man convicted of a 1975 murder will continue his life in prison, now that he’s lost another bid for freedom.

The Nebraska Pardons Board denied Michael Anderson’s request Monday for a hearing. The hearing would have given the board a chance to consider commuting his sentence to a certain number of years, which could have made him eligible for parole.

Anderson was convicted of murder in the contract slaying of his employer, Ronald Abboud. A friend, Peter Hochstein, was convicted of paying Anderson to kill Abboud. Anderson and Hochstein were taken off death row in 2001 and given life sentences.

The two have maintained their innocence since their arrests.