Newark schoolyard shooting trial jury has reached a verdict

The jury's decision in the trial of Rodolfo Godinez is expected to be announced in court shortly

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerRodolfo Godinez sits listening to closing arguments in in his trial at the Essex County Courthouse last week. He is the first of six defendants to stand trial in the Aug. 4, 2007, Newark schoolyard triple killings behind Mount Vernon School. The jury announced this morning they had reached a verdict.

NEWARK -- The jury in the Newark schoolyard shooting trial for Rodolfo Godinez has reached a verdict this morning and it is expected to be announced within the hour. The jury announced they had reached a verdict shortly after 10 a.m.

Jury finds Rodolfo Godinez guilty in Newark schoolyard killings

Godinez, 26, is the first of of six defendants to be tried in the Aug. 4, 2007, triple killings of three college-age friends, and the shooting of a fourth friend. The jury deliberated a total of about four hours starting Thursday afternoon before reaching a verdict this morning. The jury did not meet on Friday.

Godinez, dressed in a light gray shirt, entered the courtroom moments ago to hear the jury's verdict. He shook hands with his defense attorney, Roy Greenman. Updates on the jury's ruling will be posted as soon as they become available.

Godinez is charged with three counts of murder, three counts of felony murder, one count of attempted murder, four counts of robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, and weapons charges related to possession of the machete and a handgun.

Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey, both 20, and Terrance Aeriel, 18, died in the shooting. Terrance's sister, Natasha Aeriel, then 19, was shot but survived.

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