Aug 5, 2005 7:58 am US/Eastern
Jury Chosen For Trial Of John Gotti's Son
Gotti's Lawyer Said Jurors Seemed "Very Open-Minded And Fair"
NEW YORK (AP) ―
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Gotti also faces charges of fraud, extortion and securities fraud for allegedly leading the Gambino crime family after his father was sentenced to life in prison.
The jury has been picked to hear the racketeering case against John "Junior" Gotti in federal court.
The jury of seven women and five men includes a retired Broadway actress and a woman who recalled seeing writer Mario Puzo, who wrote the book "The Godfather" when she worked at a publishing house. Opening arguments begin on Monday.
Gotti lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman was pleased with the jurors, saying they seemed like "very open-minded and fair" individuals.
The case against the son of the late mob boss John Gotti includes an allegation that he conspired to kidnap radio talk show host Curtis Sliwa, who was shot repeatedly on June 19, 1992 in a cab.
Prosecutors had said Gotti tried to arrange Sliwa's death because the radio host, who founded the Guardian Angels
crimefighting group, criticized his father on his show.
Gotti also faces charges of fraud, extortion and securities fraud for allegedly leading the Gambino crime family after his
father was sentenced to life in prison.
Gotti, who has been in prison for more than five years after pleading guilty to racketeering, could face up to 30 years in
prison if he is convicted of the new charges.
The trial is expected to last up to two months.
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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