1st defendant in NJ schoolyard execution-style murders sentenced to life plus 20 years
By David Porter, APThursday, July 8, 2010
Life plus 20 years for man in NJ schoolyard deaths
NEWARK, N.J. — The first defendant convicted in the 2007 execution-style slayings of three friends and an attack on a fourth in a New Jersey schoolyard has been sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years.
The sentence means Rodolfo Godinez (goh-DEE’-nez) must serve at least 218 years for his conviction on murder, robbery and weapons charges. He received a life term for each of the three who died, plus 20 years for the survivor.
The 27-year-old immigrant from Nicaragua didn’t speak during Thursday’s sentencing in Newark.
The murders of Dashon Harvey, Terrance Aeriel and Iofemi (eye-OH’-feh-mee) Hightower and the shooting and stabbing of a fourth stunned New Jersey’s largest city.
The victims were enrolled or about to be enrolled at Delaware State University.
Five other defendants are awaiting trial.
