NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A judge has rejected an attempt by a man to overturn his conviction of killing three friends in a Newark, New Jersey, schoolyard.

Jose Carranza claimed he was an innocent bystander on the night of the 2007 shooting. He also claimed his attorney coerced him not to testify and failed to conduct any pre-trial investigations.

The judge found Carranza’s testimony was not credible.

Essex County assistant prosecutor Romesh Sukhdeo tells NJ Advance Media (http://bit.ly/10qzPas ) Carranza was not believable.

Carranza is serving a 155-year prison sentence for felony murder and armed robbery. He was among six men found guilty in the case.

The three victims and a fourth who survived a gunshot to the head were enrolled or about to enroll at Delaware State University.

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Information from: NJ Advance Media.

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