Court upholds conviction in studio slaying

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The highest court in Massachusetts has refused to grant a new trial for a man convicted of fatally shooting three members of a rap group and their friend in a makeshift recording studio in Boston.

Calvin Carnes Jr. was sentenced to four life prison terms after being convicted of four counts of murder and weapons charges for the 2005 shootings in the basement of a home in Boston's Dorchester section. Members of the rap group Graveside used the basement as a recording studio.

In his appeal, Carnes argued that a judge improperly denied his motions to suppress his statements to police. He also said the trial judge improperly prolonged jury deliberations after jurors reported a deadlock five times.

The Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday rejected Carnes' request for a new trial or to reduce his murder convictions.