I guess this disqualifies all of us.
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EXCLUSIVE: Jurors for Bonanno mobster Vincent Asaro's trial must be unfamiliar with ‘Goodfellas,’ ‘The Godfather’ and other mob-centric titles
BY John Marzulli / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Vincent Asaro, 80, is the first alleged member of the Bonanno crew that pulled the infamous 1978 robbery to stand trial.
Prospective jurors who are fans of the classic mob film “Goodfellas” could get whacked from serving on the upcoming Lufthansa heist trial of Bonanno capo Vincent Asaro.
Jury selection begins Oct. 8 with federal prosecutors and defense lawyers paying close attention to the answers to Question No. 42a of the questionnaire.
“Have you ever watched the following movies or television shows? ‘Goodfellas,’ ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Scarface,’ ‘Donnie Brasco,’ ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Mob Wives,’” according to the 28-page questionnaire filed in Brooklyn Federal Court.
Question No. 42a on the juror questionnaire asks if the potential juror has ever seen Martin Scorcese’s ‘Goodfellas,’ which depicts a heist similar to the one Asaro is accused of playing a role in.
Question No. 42a on the juror questionnaire asks if the potential juror has ever seen Martin
Scorcese’s ‘Goodfellas,’ which depicts a heist similar to the one Asaro is accused of playing a role in.Asaro, 80, is the first alleged member of the crew that pulled the infamous 1978 robbery to stand trial. The heist was immortalized in “Goodfellas” which starred Robert De Niro in the role of Asaro’s close criminal associate James (Jimmy the Gent) Burke.
Defense lawyer John Meringolo, who is also an adjunct professor at Pace University Law School, said any prospective juror who has seen the Martin Scorsese classic film should be barred from serving on the panel.
“It’s very rare for a crime to be depicted in a movie or a book before the trial is held,” Meringolo told the Daily News, also referring to the book “Wiseguys” by acclaimed journalist Nicholas Pileggi, which inspired the film.
Meringolo, who is not involved in the upcoming trial, said the gangland bloodbath depicted in the “Goodfellas” film in the aftermath of the Lufthansa robbery would be highly prejudicial to Asaro because he was not involved with killing any of the members of the crew.
Defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman, who represented former Gambino scion John A. (Junior) Gotti, said it is important to plumb prospective jurors’ preconceived notions about organized crime.
Defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman said it is important to plumb prospective jurors’ preconceived notions about organized crime, the central plot of “The Sopranos.” AP A source familiar with the case said the ‘Scarface’ question was put in by Asaro's team, though Asaro is not charged with any drug crimes. xxxxxx Anyone who has seen ‘The Godfather’ will likely not be selected for the trial’s jury. ‘Donnie Brasco’ is also on the list of movies that may affect how jurors see the defendant.
Lichtman said it is important to plumb prospective jurors’ preconceived notions about organized crime, the central plot of “The Sopranos.”“Mafia characters in these movies and shows are always violent, always thieving, and most important to defense lawyers, always guilty of something,” Lichtman said. “We want to pick these jurors out and strike them for cause if follow-up questions reveal they are unlikely to separate Hollywood’s version of organized crime characters from real-life defendants.”
The prospective jurors will also be asked whether they have a real-life member of their family who is in the mob — and who he is — which would almost certainly get them knocked off the panel.
Whether any jurors have seen “Scarface,” the 1983 film about a Cuban refugee played by Al Pacino whose career as a cocaine kingpin rockets on the trigger of his machine gun ("Say hello to my little friend!") is a puzzler, though.
Asaro is not charged with any drug-related crimes. The Brian De Palma film was a takeoff of the classic mob film "Scarface" starring Paul Muni which was loosely based on the life of Al Capone.
A source familiar with the case said the "Scarface" question was put in by Asaro's team. Defense lawyer Elizabeth Macedonio did not return a call seeking comment.
I guess this disqualifies all of us. :mrgreen:
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EXCLUSIVE: Jurors for Bonanno mobster Vincent Asaro's trial must be unfamiliar with ‘Goodfellas,’ ‘The Godfather’ and other mob-centric titles
BY John Marzulli / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Vincent Asaro, 80, is the first alleged member of the Bonanno crew that pulled the infamous 1978 robbery to stand trial.
Prospective jurors who are fans of the classic mob film “Goodfellas” could get whacked from serving on the upcoming Lufthansa heist trial of Bonanno capo Vincent Asaro.
Jury selection begins Oct. 8 with federal prosecutors and defense lawyers paying close attention to the answers to Question No. 42a of the questionnaire.
“Have you ever watched the following movies or television shows? ‘Goodfellas,’ ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Scarface,’ ‘Donnie Brasco,’ ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Mob Wives,’” according to the 28-page questionnaire filed in Brooklyn Federal Court.
Question No. 42a on the juror questionnaire asks if the potential juror has ever seen Martin Scorcese’s ‘Goodfellas,’ which depicts a heist similar to the one Asaro is accused of playing a role in.
Question No. 42a on the juror questionnaire asks if the potential juror has ever seen Martin
Scorcese’s ‘Goodfellas,’ which depicts a heist similar to the one Asaro is accused of playing a role in.Asaro, 80, is the first alleged member of the crew that pulled the infamous 1978 robbery to stand trial. The heist was immortalized in “Goodfellas” which starred Robert De Niro in the role of Asaro’s close criminal associate James (Jimmy the Gent) Burke.
Defense lawyer John Meringolo, who is also an adjunct professor at Pace University Law School, said any prospective juror who has seen the Martin Scorsese classic film should be barred from serving on the panel.
“It’s very rare for a crime to be depicted in a movie or a book before the trial is held,” Meringolo told the Daily News, also referring to the book “Wiseguys” by acclaimed journalist Nicholas Pileggi, which inspired the film.
Meringolo, who is not involved in the upcoming trial, said the gangland bloodbath depicted in the “Goodfellas” film in the aftermath of the Lufthansa robbery would be highly prejudicial to Asaro because he was not involved with killing any of the members of the crew.
Defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman, who represented former Gambino scion John A. (Junior) Gotti, said it is important to plumb prospective jurors’ preconceived notions about organized crime.
Defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman said it is important to plumb prospective jurors’ preconceived notions about organized crime, the central plot of “The Sopranos.” AP A source familiar with the case said the ‘Scarface’ question was put in by Asaro's team, though Asaro is not charged with any drug crimes. xxxxxx Anyone who has seen ‘The Godfather’ will likely not be selected for the trial’s jury. ‘Donnie Brasco’ is also on the list of movies that may affect how jurors see the defendant.
Lichtman said it is important to plumb prospective jurors’ preconceived notions about organized crime, the central plot of “The Sopranos.”“Mafia characters in these movies and shows are always violent, always thieving, and most important to defense lawyers, always guilty of something,” Lichtman said. “We want to pick these jurors out and strike them for cause if follow-up questions reveal they are unlikely to separate Hollywood’s version of organized crime characters from real-life defendants.”
The prospective jurors will also be asked whether they have a real-life member of their family who is in the mob — and who he is — which would almost certainly get them knocked off the panel.
Whether any jurors have seen “Scarface,” the 1983 film about a Cuban refugee played by Al Pacino whose career as a cocaine kingpin rockets on the trigger of his machine gun ("Say hello to my little friend!") is a puzzler, though.
Asaro is not charged with any drug-related crimes. The Brian De Palma film was a takeoff of the classic mob film "Scarface" starring Paul Muni which was loosely based on the life of Al Capone.
A source familiar with the case said the "Scarface" question was put in by Asaro's team. Defense lawyer Elizabeth Macedonio did not return a call seeking comment.