One of four men found guilty in the Dec. 26, 2005 killing of Jane Creba is appealing. Jorrell Simpson-Rowe says his conviction was unreasonable and he was forced into a jury trial. (Toronto Sun files)

TORONTO - Ontario’s highest court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of a young man convicted of second-degree murder in the Boxing Day shootout that killed Riverdale schoolgirl Jane Creba.

“It cannot be said that the verdict of guilty of guilty (for) second-degree murder was unreasonable,” wrote Madam Justice Kathryn Feldman in an unanimous Ontario Court of Appeal decision that confirmed the conviction and maintained the maximum sentence imposed for Jorrell Simpson-Rowe.

The now 24-year-old man — who has been in jail since he was arrested about 30 minutes after the Dec. 26, 2005 shootout on Yonge St. — was sentenced in 2009 to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for seven years.

That means he’ll be eligible for parole this Boxing Day because life sentences begin the moment an accused person steps in custody.

Simpson-Rowe was six weeks shy of his 18th birthday at the time of the shooting but was sentenced as an adult by Justice Ian Nordheimer.