Thread: Newark Murder Suspect Arraigned

Newark murder suspect arraigned


Stems from murder of 3 friends on playground last summer

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 11/8/07

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS



NEWARK — A Nicaraguan national considered a principal suspect in the execution-style slayings of three friends in Newark over the summer pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Rodolfo Godinez wore an orange prison uniform and stood with his hands and feet shackled during his 10-minute arraignment before state Superior Court Judge Donald Volkert. A tattoo of flames on his forearm in part read: "Hell offered me salvation and freedom for all."

Five other suspects — one of whom is Godinez' half brother, 16-year-old Alexander Alfaro — have already pleaded not guilty in the Aug. 4 killing of 18-year-old Terrance Aeriel, 20-year-old Iofemi Hightower and 20-year-old Dashon Harvey.

Godinez, 24, of Newark, faces 16 charges, including three murder counts.

Volkert set bail at $1.5 million on the murder charges. That brought Godinez' combined bail to $3 million, which includes $1 million on separate charges related to the killings and $500,000 stemming from an outstanding arrest warrant for robbery and aggravated assault in 2003.

Godinez lost a bid to fight extradition from Maryland last week and was returned to New Jersey on Saturday. He was arrested on Aug. 18 in Oxon Hill, Md., two weeks after the killings that rocked Newark and focused a national spotlight on the city's escalating gun violence.

"He is certainly one of the significant players," Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow said.

A detainer has been placed on Godinez by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which means that even if Godinez were to make bail he would not be released. When asked by Volkert if he had a Social Security card, Godinez answered that he did but then was unable to recite the number.

Aeriel and Harvey were students at Delaware State University and Hightower was in the process of enrolling there for the fall semester when they were each shot in the back of the head in a playground.

Aeriel's 19-year-old sister, Natasha, also a Delaware State student, was shot in the head but survived and was able to help authorities identify some of the suspects. She is living at an undisclosed location.

All six suspects face murder and weapons charges. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has petitioned to have the three juvenile suspects tried as adults.

Dow said other charges may be added and said her office has not ruled out that a sexual assault charge may be filed against one or more of the suspects.





http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl ... 80355/1007

I hope this person truly gets what he deserves