Convicted murderer Philip Chism, who was sentenced to life in jail for the brutal rape and slay Danvers teacher Collen Ritzer, has lost his bid for for a new trial.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rejected Chism’s appeal in a decision issued Tuesday.

“After carefully reviewing the record, we conclude that none of the asserted errors, standing alone or cumulatively, requires a new trial, and that there is no other basis on which to disturb the jury’s verdict.,” the court concluded in its decision.

Chism was sentenced to life in prison for the 2013 murder of Ritzer and and is eligible for parole for 40 years. He was convicted in 2015.

“Colleen Ritzer lived a life of quiet heroism, as many teachers do,” Essex Superior Court Judge David Lowy told the court as he sent Chism to jail.

Chism’s lawyers challenged the conviction based on the sentencing, which they argued amounted to a life sentence, which is illegal under the Massachusetts Constitution.

Under the sentencing, Chism is eligible for parole in 25 years on the murder charge but received a 40-year concurrent sentence for rape and armed robbery.

Ritzer’s family said at the time that they were devastated by the sentence, which kept Chism in DYS custody until he was 18 and made him eligible for parole after 40 years.

They said the “law must be changed” to keep Chism behind bars for life.

– Developing