Preserve 'fundamental notions of justice' government tells jury in mob trial

Defendants for five accused mobsters will get their chance to frame the evidence in the "Family Secrets" mob trial this afternoon after Assistant U.S. Attorney Markus Funk concluded his closing argument Tuesday.

Funk wrapped up his argument today by telling jurors "the only verdict (consistent) with the facts that you heard... and fundamental notions of justice... (is) guilty."

Funk continued to talk about the parade of murders allegedly committed by the mob, focusing on the killing of the Spilotro brothers, mobsters themselves.

The two were killed in 1986 after Anthony Spilotro began attracting too much heat to mob activities in Las Vegas.

"And why was Michael killed? Because he was Tony's brother," contended Funk, noting that the mob couldn't take the chance that Michael Spilotro might seek revenge on them.

The two were taken to a house near Bensenville on the pretext of being promoted within the mob. There, 12 other mobsters waited.

"They were jumped, they were beaten, they were strangled," said Funk.

But the two were at least suspicious of the ruse, giving their belongings to their family before they went to the meeting.

"They took off their jewelry, took out their wallets" in case things might not be what they were told, said Funk.

"Well, it wasn't good," said Funk, who noted that a life, even that of a mobster who was involved in killing other people, is still a life.

"Whatever his (Anthony Spilotro's) involvement was with the Chicago Outfit, he didn't deserve to be murdered," said Funk.

Each of the five defense attorneys will now have a chance to put his interpretation on the evidence before the government gets another chance to speak to jurors before jury deliberations begin.