Defendant Sentenced in Newark Schoolyard Murders

The only defendant to admit his role in the 2007 slayings of three college students in a Newark schoolyard has been sentenced.

Shahid Baskerville was given a 30-year prison sentence Thursday in state Superior Court in Newark.

Baskerville was 15 at the time of the execution-style killings of Dashon Harvey, Iofemi Hightower and Terrance "T.J." Aeriel.

He pleaded guilty in December 2011 to robbery, conspiracy and aggravated sexual contact in exchange for having murder and felony murder charges dropped.

He was one of six men and boys charged in the case, and he agreed to testify against his co-defendants as part of a plea deal.

Several of the defendants are currently serving multiple life sentences.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press