by Tasker » Wed Dec 11, 2024 2:53 pm
Bing Bang 74 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 12:03 pm
Tasker wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2024 11:23 am
How did the govt make sure that word wouldn’t get out on Massino being a possible cooperator? When Massino was found guilty and decided to flip, he requested a meeting with the Judge. From there I imagine he got a new lawyer. This would be telling to his original defense team, and word could spread from there. Did they take certain steps to prevent this from happening?
Massino didn't dismiss his lawyers immediately upon conviction, when he met with Garaufis on June 30, 2004, he wasn't dead-set on flipping yet, they discussed and both agreed on the decision to form a "shadow council" of attorneys in the event Massino would cooperate, and he retained David Breitbart and Flora Edwards without informing them of his meeting with Garaufis. By the time Indelicato, Trinchera and Giaccone's bodies were unearthed on the strength of Massino's information in October, Ed McDonald was his "shadow lawyer", and he was present with him during his initial debriefings before he signed his cooperation agreement. Edwards began harboring suspicions when Massino was moved to the segregation unit in November, but she was told this was protocol for any convict facing the death penalty.
Thank you for this explanation. Now that you say it, I remember reading about the shadow counsel in one of the books on Massino/Basciano. Still, it is interesting that Massino was able to meet with the judge that day without his lawyers knowing. I just read an article saying Massino asked a US Marshall present to tell the Judge he wanted to meet. It’s interesting Massino knew how to go about doing that without his lawyers seeing/knowing, and that the judge wouldn’t be obligated to notify/involve them. Smart.
[quote="Bing Bang 74" post_id=287323 time=1733943796 user_id=7758]
[quote=Tasker post_id=287322 time=1733941416 user_id=8354]
How did the govt make sure that word wouldn’t get out on Massino being a possible cooperator? When Massino was found guilty and decided to flip, he requested a meeting with the Judge. From there I imagine he got a new lawyer. This would be telling to his original defense team, and word could spread from there. Did they take certain steps to prevent this from happening?
[/quote]
Massino didn't dismiss his lawyers immediately upon conviction, when he met with Garaufis on June 30, 2004, he wasn't dead-set on flipping yet, they discussed and both agreed on the decision to form a "shadow council" of attorneys in the event Massino would cooperate, and he retained David Breitbart and Flora Edwards without informing them of his meeting with Garaufis. By the time Indelicato, Trinchera and Giaccone's bodies were unearthed on the strength of Massino's information in October, Ed McDonald was his "shadow lawyer", and he was present with him during his initial debriefings before he signed his cooperation agreement. Edwards began harboring suspicions when Massino was moved to the segregation unit in November, but she was told this was protocol for any convict facing the death penalty.
[/quote]
Thank you for this explanation. Now that you say it, I remember reading about the shadow counsel in one of the books on Massino/Basciano. Still, it is interesting that Massino was able to meet with the judge that day without his lawyers knowing. I just read an article saying Massino asked a US Marshall present to tell the Judge he wanted to meet. It’s interesting Massino knew how to go about doing that without his lawyers seeing/knowing, and that the judge wouldn’t be obligated to notify/involve them. Smart.