[economex]

Alleged gangster uses 'Godfather tactic' in courtroom

An alleged killer told his associates to pack a courtroom and scare a former accomplice who planned to testify against him, in a re-enactment of a scene from one of the Godfather films.



Carbuccia made a reference to his favourite film 'The Godfather II' during his trialPhoto: MOVIESTORE

By Jon Swaine in New York 5:02PM GMT 23 Nov 2010

Daniel Carbuccia was said to be trying to set up the intimidation of Eduardo Urritia during phone calls he made from New York's Rikers Island jail, where he was being held. "I need people in court tomorrow so the guy can look at us," he was heard telling an unidentified associate.

Carbuccia said they would be reliving part of his "favourite movie of all time," when "the guy is testifying in 'Godfather II' against Michael Corleone, and his brother walks in". He appeared to be referring to a scene in which Frank Pentangeli, a high-ranking associate of the Corleone family, is deterred from testifying to a congressional committee about their crimes.

Urritia, who agreed that he would plead guilty to manslaughter and provide testimony against Carbuccia and two others in return for a short sentence, has so far twice declined to answer questions in court. Tapes of the phone conversation were played in court after the judge ordered a hearing into Urritia's reluctance to testify.

The court heard Carbuccia saying he wanted the "whole 'hood" in the courtroom, The New York Post reported, adding: "I gotta get rid of this."