NEWARK -- Jurors in the schoolyard trial will restart their deliberations at 9 a.m. The eight women and four men were dismissed for the weekend Thursday after roughly three hours of deliberations. They will decide the fate of Rodolfo Godinez, 26, the first of six defendants to be tried separately in connection with the triple killings at the Mount...
Rodolfo Godinez glances over to his attorney Roy Greenman as greenman questions him on his decision not to testify in his own defense during his trial this morning at the Essex County Courthouse. Godinez is the first of six defendants to stand trial in the Aug. 4, 2007, Newark schoolyard triple killings behind Mount Vernon School of Iofemi Hightower, Dashon Harvey, both 20, Terrance Aeriel, 18, and the attempted murder of Natasha Aeriel. NEWARK -- Jurors in the schoolyard trial will restart their deliberations at 9 a.m.
The eight women and four men were dismissed for the weekend Thursday after roughly three hours of deliberations.
They will decide the fate of Rodolfo Godinez, 26, the first of six defendants to be tried separately in connection with the triple killings at the Mount Vernon School on Aug. 4, 2007. Three college-aged friends -- Terrance Aeriel, Dashon Harvey and Iofemi Hightower -- were set upon and shot, execution-style. Terrance's sister, Natasha Aeriel, now 22, was also shot but survived.
Godinez has pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of murder, felony murder, robbery and weapons charges.
Previous coverage:
•Newark schoolyard slayings lone survivor graduates from college
• Prosecutor delivers closing statement in Newark schoolyard slayings trial
• Expert says Newark schoolyard killings defendant scored 'borderline retarded' in mental ability tests
• Experts in Newark schoolyard slayings trial say MS-13 gang has a 'history of violence'
• Expert testifies MS-13 gang known to have machetes like one used in Newark schoolyard killings
• Defendant in Newark schoolyard slayings offered to provide brother's location to detective
• Newark schoolyard slayings suspect concerned about mother's safety after his arrest
• Scent-tracking dog in Newark schoolyard shootings case led police to defendant's home
• The Newark schoolyard killings
| Recording of Godinez's arrest statement played in Newark schoolyard killing trial |