Sep 18, 2008 7:25 pm US/Eastern
Humor Accompanies Dramatic Boston Mob Murder Trial
MIAMI (WBZ) ―
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Hit man John Martorano cracks a rare smile in court on Sept. 18, 2008 while testifying against former FBI agent John Connolly.
WBZ
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John Connolly in a Miami courtroom Sept. 8
WBZ
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1994 photos of Whitey Bulger.
FBI/Getty Images
While the testimony of a hired hit man for the Winter Hill Gang is high drama in Boston, the murder trial of a former FBI agent is taking on a different feel in Miami.
Self-described mob hit man John Martorano testified that he was reluctant to kill a gambling executive but was convinced by mob leader James "Whitey" Bulger that a trusted FBI agent indicated the gangsters would go to prison if the executive lived.
Martorano said he believed Bulger had been warned by FBI agent John Connolly, who is on trial in Miami for murder and conspiracy in the executive's death. Martorano, a prosecution witness, said Bulger told him that former World Jai-Alai president John Callahan was likely to become the focus of an FBI probe into another murder and that he would probably crumble under the intense pressure and implicate gang members.
So, Martorano said he killed Callahan.
"We were all going to go to prison for the rest of our lives if Callahan didn't hold up," Martorano testified. "That's what Bulger said John Connolly said."
Despite the serious content of Martorano's testimony, there was a light moment in court Thursday.
"You were a ruthless guy, weren't you, Mr. Martorano?" a defense attorney asked.
"I don't know," Martorano said.
"You don't know?" the attorney pressed.
"You don't act like I am," Martorano chuckled.
Dick Lehr, a Boston mob expert, said he has never seen Martorano smile, much less chuckle.
"We've seen a few one-liners going back and forth between Martorano and the defense attorneys, which I think fits with the judge," Lehr said.
Despite the light moments, Connolly faces life in prison if convicted of tipping off the Boston mob and giving them information about Callahan's whereabouts so he could be killed.
In July 1982, Martorano fatally shot the 45-year-old Callahan, whose body was later found stuffed into the trunk of his silver Cadillac at Miami International Airport.
Martorano, 67, has claimed responsibility for 20 murders, including Wheeler's slaying at a country club in Tulsa, Okla.
Bulger, a 79-year-old fugitive on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list, was a longtime FBI informant with Connolly as his handler. Connolly, 68, was convicted in 2002 of racketeering and sentenced to 10 years in prison for protecting Bulger and other Winter Hill gang members from prosecution -- and tipping them off about informants or "rats" in their own group.
Martorano served just over 12 years in federal prison under a plea agreement requiring his testimony against Connolly and former mob figures. He is now a free man.
Bulger's right-hand man, Stephen Flemmi, is expected to testify against Connolly next week.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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