ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge has rejected an appeal by an inmate who was blamed in a string of child murders and disappearances 25 years ago.

Wayne Williams, who was convicted of killing two men in 1982 and is serving life in prison, claimed that prosecutors withheld critical evidence that could have led to an acquittal.

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But U.S. District Judge Beverly Martin wrote Wednesday that none of the allegedly withheld evidence "would have had more than a minimal impact upon the outcome of Mr. Williams' trial had it been presented to the jury."

Two dozen young black men and children disappeared or were killed in a string of slayings that terrorized Atlanta's black community from 1979-1981.

Williams was convicted of killing Nathaniel Carter, 27, and Jimmy Ray Payne, 21, considered the last two victims in the string.

Despite the judge's ruling, attorney Michael Lee Jackson said the defense still believes "we have a crystal clear case of violations of his constitutional rights by the massive withholding of critical evidence."

The judge also rejected several other claims raised by Williams.