The state appeals court Wednesday denied the appeal of two men convicted of killing Sammantha Salas in unincorporated Monrovia in January 2008, according to court documents obtained by this newspaper.

Cousins Nickelis and Rayshawn Blackwell argued that they were wrongly convicted when prosecutors failed to disclose the identities of two confidential informants and were represented by “inept counsel.”

The unpublished ruling brought relief to Salas’ mother Jeanette Chavez.

“I can finally breathe,” she said. “This is final Justice for my Sammantha.”