newjerseynewsroom.com

BY ALICIA CRUZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Newark man convicted in the August 4, 2007 triple murder of three Delaware State University students was sentenced to 272 years in prison Friday, acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced.

Alexander Alfaro, 20, the second defendant tried in the triple slaying, took the witness stand and admitted bringing the machete to the playground. He also admitted to being a member of the vicious MS-13 Central American street gang.

At the start of his trial, Alfaro's attorney, Raymond Morasse indicated he intended to put up a duress defense, saying his client was forced by his 27-year-old brother, Rodolfo Godinez to take part in the attack. Morasse attempted to suppress statements Alfaro made to police the night of his arrest, citing violation of his Miranda Rights, but an appellate court refused to do so. Alfaro, who was 16 at the time of the brutal murders, had his mother, Gloria Gomez — also Godinez’s mother — with him during the interrogation, NJ.COM reported.

On the night of the Aug. 4, 2007 murders, Alfaro received a phone call from his brother, Godinez telling Alfaro to meet him at the Newark schoolyard and bring the machete, according to a statement Alfaro gave police. Alfaro hid the foot-long blade in his pants, and then walked to the Mount Vernon Schoolyard in the Ivy Hill neighborhood.

Once there, prosecutors said all four, members of MS-13 gang, headed towards the four current and prospective Delaware State University students who were listening to music behind the elementary school bleachers.

Two of the young women were sexually assaulted. Alfaro repeatedly slashed Iofema Hightower, 20, with the machete. Then, prosecutors say the boys lined three of the victims —Terrance Aeriel, 18, Dashon Harvey, 20, and Hightower — up against a wall and shot them execution style in the back of the head. Aeriel's sister, Natasha, 19, was cut then shot in the head. She survived the brutal attack and testified against the defendants.

Alfaro was arrested two weeks after the murders in Woodbridge, Virginia Police Department. ABC News reported. At his April trial, Alfaro was convicted of 16 of 17 counts, including three counts of murder. He was found not guilty of the attempted murder of a fourth student. The survivor, Natasha Aeriel, was shot but not cut with the machete.

A breakdown of Alfaro’s sentencing is as follows: Superior Court judge Michael L. Ravin, Judge sentenced Alfaro to 60 years each on two of the murders and 75 years on the third murder, to run consecutively. He received a consecutive term of 17 years for armed robbery, CBS News reported.

Godinez was convicted by an Essex County jury in May of 2010 and sentenced two months later. Melvin Jovel, 21, of Elizabeth also pleaded guilty and was sentenced in November 2010. Jovel and Godinez both received more than 200 years in state prison.

In her press release, Murray said, “The sentencing of defendant Alfaro is an important milestone in bringing this case to a just conclusion. We look forward to meeting our ultimate goal which is the successful prosecution and conviction of all six defendants who participated in the events of that terrible night."

Three other defendants awaiting trial are Jose Carranza, 32, of Newark, Shahid Baskerville, 19, of Morristown, and Gerardo Gomez, 18, of Newark. Gomez is Alfaro’s cousin.