No verdict yet at NJ man's schoolyard murder trial

NEWARK, N.J. – The first full day of jury deliberations has concluded without a verdict in the trial of a New Jersey man charged with wielding a machete in the schoolyard killings of three college students in 2007.

Alexander Alfaro faces 17 counts including murder, felony murder and robbery. His trial began March 1.

Jurors began deliberations Thursday afternoon in state Superior Court in Essex County. On Friday, they were re-read testimony from a survivor of the attacks who testified against Alfaro.

Iofemi Hightower (eye-OH'-feh-mee), Dashon Harvey and Terrance Aeriel were robbed in Newark's Mount Vernon School playground in August 2007 and then shot execution-style. The three were enrolled or planning to enroll at Delaware State University that fall.

Six men were charged. Two are serving consecutive life sentences and three cases are pending.