Judge tosses out discussion of four murders at upcoming trial of Bonanno gangster
Vincent Asaro (c.) is walked from the FBI headquarters in New York City. A judge just blocked murders carried out in the aftermath of the 1978 Lufthansa robbery at Kennedy Airport from being mentioned in Asaro’s upcoming trial.
Cue “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos.
In a bloodbath for the prosecutors, a Brooklyn judge whacked four murders carried out in the aftermath of the 1978 Lufthansa robbery at Kennedy Airport from being mentioned at the upcoming trial of Bonanno gangster Vincent Asaro.
Federal Judge Allyne Ross ruled Wednesday that references to the killings — which were gruesomely depicted in the film “Goodfellas” accompanied by the piano portion of iconic rock tune — would be unfair to Asaro who is not charged with any of those rubouts of robbery crew members.
“At some point, the collapse of relationship and murder of co-conspirators after the heist ceases to be an epilogue to the heist, and begins to tell the story of a whole new set of crimes,” Ross wrote in her decision.
From left, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Paul Sorvino, and Joe Pesci in the 1990 film “Goodfellas.” A federal Judge ruled Wednesday that references to the killings — which were gruesomely depicted in "Goodfellas" — could not be used in an upcoming trial for mobster Vincent Asaro.
Prosecutors had argued that the killing spree provided context to testimony by their star witness, Asaro's cousin Gaspare Valenti, who feared he was going to be killed, too.
Valenti was also prepared to testify about mobster Tommy DeSimone announcing to the crew in a mob hangout called Robert’s Lounge that he was “going to get straightened out,” or inducted to the mob.
Instead DeSimone, who was portrayed by Joe Pesci in an Oscar-winning role, was shot to death as retribution for killing a mobster from another crime family.
Police park next to a black van in front of 595 East 95th St. in Brooklyn on Dec. 13, 1978, as forensics experts examine the vehicle. They suspected it was used in the robbery at Kennedy Airport.
The other murders edited out of the government's script are Marty Krugman, the wig store owner who provided the crew with plans for the robbery, and inside men Joe "Buddha" Manri and Robert "Frenchy" McMahon.
Asaro is charged with one murder, which is not related to the infamous airline heist.
About 300 prospective jurors will be summoned to Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday to fill out a jury questionnaire.
Prosecutors won an important victory on another issue — the judge ruled that another mob snitch Anthony Ruggiero Jr. can testify that his late Gambino soldier father, “Fat Andy,” had helped Asaro and Lufthansa mastermind James Burke fence jewelry stolen in the robbery.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/judge-tosses-4-murders-trial-gangster-vincent-asaro-article-1.2388583
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