Frank Cali shot dead

[potsnpans]

Marcus Conte
Published on Aug 13, 2019

Judge Slaps QAnon Killer's Attorney With Gag Order; Anthony Comello Silenced
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2O8-CqfBTo

[z23]

From Staten Island Live:

https://www.silive.com/news/2019/08/jud ... ation.html

Judge issues gag order in mob-boss slay case; cites phone call on vacation

Updated Aug 13, 2:16 PM; Posted Aug 13, 2:15 PM

By Frank Donnelly | fdonnelly@siadvance.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – In a surprise move, a justice on Tuesday issued a gag order preventing lawyers from discussing with the media and others the pending murder case against the Eltingville man accused of slaying a mob boss outside the victim’s Dongan Hills home five months ago.

Justice William E. Garnett said his actions were spurred by a trans-Atlantic phone call he received on the case while on vacation.

“This case will be litigated in this courtroom. Not in the hallway, not in the lobby or in the street,” Garnett said at the end of a conference in state Supreme Court, St. George.

Garnett warned prosecutors and defense lawyer Robert Gottlieb he would hold them in contempt if they disobey his order.

The ruling summarily ended Gottlieb’s typical post-court discussions with the media.

The judge did not accuse any of the lawyers of wrongdoing.

Gottlieb represents Anthony Comello, 24, who allegedly gunned down Francesco (Franky Boy) Cali, 53, the Gambino crime family’s top honcho, on March 13.

Police said the events unfolded around 9:17 p.m.

Comello crashed into Cali’s Cadillac SUV outside the mobster’s Hilltop Terrace home in what appeared to be a bid to lure the victim away from his family, said authorities.

Cali exited and after the two men talked, Comello fatally shot the victim on a residential street within earshot of several neighbors, police said.

In court papers, Gottlieb said Comello didn’t intend to kill Cali.

Rather, the defendant drove to the house to affect a citizen’s arrest on the mob boss.

He believed Cali “held a significant status in a worldwide criminal cabal bent on the destruction of American values and the American way of life,” a defense motions contends.

That alleged criminal conspiracy group is commonly referred to as the “Deep State.”

In the weeks preceding the slaying, Comello had become increasingly vocal about his support of the QAnon group – a right-wing conspiracy-theory organization in which he believed to have a fundamental role: Protecting President Trump, according to a defense motion.

“Comello’s support for QAnon went beyond mere participation in a radical political organization,” the motion said. “It evolved into a delusional obsession.”

According to the motion, Comello planned to handcuff Cali and deliver him to the military.

The defendant had a gun, but left it in his vehicle to avoid escalating the situation, said his motion.

Comello informed Cali of his intention to arrest him when the victim approached him outside his home, said the motion.

“After a heated exchange, Cali made a furtive action with his hand and Comello became afraid for his life,” the motion said. “He reached into his vehicle, withdrew his gun and shot Cali in self-defense.”

At Tuesday’s conference, Gottlieb said he wants prosecutors to turn over all the warrants and applications used to search Cali’s home and car, as well as all video footage showing the comings and goings outside the victim’s home before and after the shooting.

The lawyer said he wants to see if anyone brought a gun into the residence after Cali was slain.

“We have said in court papers that there’s an issue of self-defense,” Gottlieb told the judge. “Mr. Cali had a gun.”

Assistant District Attorney Michele Molfetta said no weapon was recovered in Cali’s vehicle or inside his home.

In anticipation of presenting an insanity defense, Gottlieb said Comello is undergoing a psychiatric exam.

He said he expects a report from that exam to be completed by the next court date of Sept. 18.

Afterward, prosecutors could have their own doctor examine Comello.

The defendant did not address the court during the 15-minute proceeding, attended by about a half-dozen family members and friends.

Sporting a thick beard, he was garbed in a gray suit with an open-collared blue shirt.

At one point, Comello leaned over and whispered something into Gottlieb’s ear.

Garnett, the judge, said he expects to rule on defense discovery and evidence-suppression motions by the next court date.

Pretrial hearings would likely be scheduled shortly thereafter.

Besides Molfetta, Assistant District Attorneys Carrie Low and Wanda DeOliveira are prosecuting the case.

What I don't understand is how can the lawyer on the one hand say his client is mentally defective because he is driven by delusion and obsession, and at the same time say his client should be believed because his client told him Cali had a gun. He is saying his client can't be trusted or believed because he does not know what he is doing while at the same time with regard to Cali being armed and his client fearing for his life to the point of shooting and killing Cali, his clients words are expected to be believed, considered reliable and trustworthy? The lawyer can't have it both ways. Can he? Cali did not have a weapon and no weapon was found in and out of his house and vehicle. How much more is this lawyer going to put Cali's family through?

[bronx]

agree Z

[bert]

This thing is going to drag on for a while, then Comello will plead insanity and get it.

[Lupara]

This thing is going to drag on for a while, then Comello will plead insanity and get it.

Eventually he will get a bullet or worse.

[bingo]

I have a feeling nothing will happen to him. I think his parents are the ones who are crazy. They must be paying a small fortune for this lawyer to put on this performance when the parents should have done something about their son after the first time he tried to arrest a politician. The lawyer must be getting paid well to put on this show and knows his clients parents have the means to provide it. Any other lawyer would say "look, they got you, you killed somebody and they have the weapon, plea out and I will do what I can with the sentence", and that's it. But this guy (the attorney) is going all out with this thing. What the fuck for? For all we know Comello never said Cali had a gun and shot in self defense. It could all be a fiction created by the lawyer. Money talks and regardless of what ends up happening to Comello the lawyer is milking this cash cow dry. I still blame the parents. Just because they have money doesn't mean shit. Cali is dead and can't come back, while they should have put the brakes on their kid way before he ever thought about going to Cali's house. Comello was already out of control long before he ever got to Cali, and you mean to tell me the people he lived with didn't know or see it? Bullshit. Now after their kid takes a major dump in public they are wiping his ass and trying to clean up the mess with dollar bills paid to their lawyer, who is all too willing to suck them in like a vacuum, come what may. This whole thing stinks. This isn't justice. Where is the justice for Cali's family?

[nowandlater]

Bingo try not to let this thing make you half as crazy as Comello. You make a lot of good points but there is nothing anyone of us can do about it. I know reading the news article every time this guy goes to court flairs it all up again. It's ok to vent and rant but try to take it easy and not get all jacked up over it. The whole thing will play itself out over time. It may take awhile but it will eventually come to a conclusion. It will require a bit of patients and the ability to absorb and endure the antics that transpire in the mean time. Keep you head. Remain cool. Easier said than done, I know. Aspetti, aspetti.

[AntComello]

Would have been so much more interesting is it was Cosa Nostra related lol what a bummer

[scagghiuni]

Would have been so much more interesting is it was Cosa Nostra related lol what a bummer

even the inzerillo's in sicily thought it was mafia-related lol

[Lupara]

Would have been so much more interesting is it was Cosa Nostra related lol what a bummer

Do you have acces to internet in prison?

[scagghiuni]

Would have been so much more interesting is it was Cosa Nostra related lol what a bummer

Do you have acces to internet in prison?

is he anthony comello?

[Lupara]

Would have been so much more interesting is it was Cosa Nostra related lol what a bummer

Do you have acces to internet in prison?

is he anthony comello?

You never know.

[maxiestern11]

I gotta say, this is getting to be a boring thread!

[FriendofFamily]

Let's keep it On Topic and relevant without useless comments. If you have some News or update please add it. But using trite comments that don't really add to the Conversation - just save it for something else other than posting it here.

[kpjohnson]

Staten Island Advance May 19,2019

Judge denies motion to toss case against Eltingville man in mobster slay
https://www.silive.com/news/2019/09/jud ... -slay.html