Jury hears opening statements in trial of 1st defendant in triple murder at NJ schoolyard

Jury hears details in NJ schoolyard triple killing

NEWARK, N.J. — A prosecutor has described to jurors how three college-age friends were systematically shot and killed at a schoolyard in Newark, N.J.

Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas McTigue spoke Tuesday during opening statements in the trial of Rodolfo Godinez. He is the first of six defendants to go to trial in the killings of Dashon Harvey, Iofemi (yoh-FEM’-eeh) Hightower and Terrance Aeriel in 2007.

McTigue says the victims were lined up against a wall and methodically shot at the base of the skull.

He says a woman who survived the attacks will testify Wednesday. The Associated Press is not naming her because two other suspects are charged with sexual assault.

A defense attorney told jurors that Godinez was on the playground but didn’t participate in the attacks.