PITTSBURGH (AP) -- One of three local men serving life sentences in a drug-related kidnapping and murder a decade ago has been granted a new trial.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Manning on Friday granted 30-year-old Jared Lischner's appeal, but denied similar requests from Craig Elias, 31, and Jared Henkel, 30.

Authorities said the former Mount Lebanon High classmates killed 19-year-old Andrew Jones and dumped his body in the Ohio River in March 2002 because they believed he had stolen from a safe in a Pittsburgh house.

Lischner maintains he was not present when Jones was killed and did not know that would happen. His attorney said his client believed another co-defendant was going to testify to that effect, but he decided not to take the stand at the last minute.