Bonanno Crime Family Boss "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano to argue that murder victim had it coming at upcoming death penalty trial
Call it an occupational hazard.
Attorneys for Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano want to tell jurors in the mobster's upcoming death-penalty case that the victim of a hit the former Bonanno crime-family boss allegedly ordered put himself in danger by getting involved with the Mafia.
"By voluntarily choosing to engage in violent criminal conduct, the victim in this case, Randolph Pizzolo, willingly participated in dangerous and illegal activities, a circumstance that contributed to his unfortunate death," defense attorneys wrote to Brooklyn federal court Judge Nicholas Garaufis.
Jury selection is under way in Basciano's upcoming trial, where he will face capital-murder charges for allegedly ordering Pizzolo's 2004 murder in an industrial district of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Federal prosecutors say Basciano, already serving a life sentence for another murder, ordered the Pizzolo rubout from behind bars.
In addition to that argument, Basciano's attorneys, Richard Jasper, George Goltzer and Ying Stafford, also want jurors to know that even through Basciano "suffered an abusive childhood," he has shown as an adult that he is "capable of acts of generosity and kindness."
And they want the panel to know that other mobsters convicted in the Pizzolo murder, including hit man Anthony "Ace" Aiello, did not receive the death penalty.
The judge has not yet ruled on their request.
Attorneys for Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano want to tell jurors in the mobster's upcoming death-penalty case that the victim of a hit the former Bonanno crime-family boss allegedly ordered put himself in danger by getting involved with the Mafia.
"By voluntarily choosing to engage in violent criminal conduct, the victim in this case, Randolph Pizzolo, willingly participated in dangerous and illegal activities, a circumstance that contributed to his unfortunate death," defense attorneys wrote to Brooklyn federal court Judge Nicholas Garaufis.
'GORGEOUS'
In addition to that argument, Basciano's attorneys, Richard Jasper, George Goltzer and Ying Stafford, also want jurors to know that even through Basciano "suffered an abusive childhood," he has shown as an adult that he is "capable of acts of generosity and kindness."
And they want the panel to know that other mobsters convicted in the Pizzolo murder, including hit man Anthony "Ace" Aiello, did not receive the death penalty.
The judge has not yet ruled on their request.
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