MARTINEZ — Nearly 30 years after his controversial murder conviction, the life sentence has been undone for an Antioch man whose case was kept alive in underground rap lyrics and interviews.

Gabriel “Snoop” Roberson, 49, is set to be released from prison within five years, through a new plea deal struck between his defense attorney and Contra Costa prosecutors. Roberson was convicted of 1994 quintuple shooting but maintained his innocence for decades, and a childhood friend, the locally famous late rapper known as Woodie, consistently released songs implying that Roberson had taken the fall for him.

Through a plea deal struck Nov. 3, Roberson pleaded no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter and four counts of attempted murder and sentenced to an addition five years in state pris

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