Saturday, January 5, 2013

Defense In Philadelphia Mob Trial Rips The Government Case


Veteran organized crime reporter George Anastasia is covering the federal organized crime trial for BigTrial.net.

They're already planning the victory party.

On a day when five different defense attorneys ripped into the govenment's witnesses and evidence in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants, family members and friends who have crowded the 15th floor federal courtroom during the 10-week trial were openly optimistic about the outcome of the case.

So, in fact, were some of the defendants.

"Feeling good today," said mob underboss Joseph "Mousie" Massimino. "I'm tellin' ya...I gotta have a suit for the party...Get those martini glasses chilled."


You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.bigtrial.net/2013/01/defense-in-mob-trial-rips-government.html

The Philadelphia Inquirer's John P. Martin is also covering the trial.

Lawyers for accused leaders of the Philadelphia mob railed against prosecutors and their case Friday, urging jurors to acquit the men and reject an FBI probe they said took more than a decade because it was built on petty crimes, flimsy evidence, and unreliable witnesses.

"They were investigating for 13 years," Gregory Pagano told jurors. "They were waiting for something bigger and better than video poker machines and sports betting to come along, and it never did."

A day after a prosecutor spent more than three hours delivering his closing argument, Friday was reserved for defense lawyers to fire back.

They did, again and again, for five hours.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130105_Defense_lawyers_fire_back_in_Philadelphia_mob_case.html

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