Results tagged “brucecutler”

The much ballyhooed trial of Mafia cops Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa ended in guilty verdicts and life sentences a few weeks ago. But Eppolito decided to stick around the courthouse a little longer, by claiming his defense from John Gotti's lawyer, Bruce Cutler, was not up to snuff. Therefore, Eppolito must be granted a new trial - hello, buyer's remorse! Eppolito got a contended that Cutler prevented him from testifying in the trial, and actually took the stand in the competency hearing. Unfortunately, Eppolito testified that he'd lie when necesary - and then admitted he would wash his hand after "shaking a black man's hands." Now, Cutler did free associate quite a bit and mock gangsters for turning informants, but a Brooklyn judge found him "not incompetent" (that's a ringing endorsement!) yesterday, noting that Cutler probably did the right thing in not letting Eppolito testify.

Louis Eppolito and Steven Caracappa, two decorated NYPD detective who were found guilty of racketeering as they moonlighted as hitmen and informants for the Luchese crime family, were sentenced to life in prison yesterday. And the racketeering charges cover "eight murders, kidnapping, drug dealing and obstruction of justice." Judge Jack Weinstein said, "This is probably the most heinous series of crimes ever tried in this courthouse," but is delaying sentencing to see if Eppolito and Caracappa need new trials - both detectives claimed they received ineffective defense. Hmm, they did have two high-profile criminal defense attorneys, but maybe Eppolito's defense lawyer, Bruce Cutler (whom Eppolito later fired), took his "bebopping" during the closing too far.

- Acela trains

The first day of the trial of retired NYPD detectives turned possible mob hit men was full of screaming as the prosecution presented its first witnesses and the defense went to town. The one witness in the case against Louis Eppolito and Steven Caracappa, who the feds say would kill people for the mob at $65,000 a pop (plus they got a $4,000 monthly retainer), was the mother of a Brooklyn's Nicholas Guido who was killed in his driveway in a case of mistaken identity - Eppolito and Caracappa gave Luchese family hit men the wrong address for a hit on Christmas Day, and the Post used the photograph for its cover. Eppolito's lawyer, Bruce Cutler, went after a former mobster turned government witnesses, and criticized them, saying, "They called each other tough guys, goodfellas - until the jail door shut. Then they wet their pants and called Mommy - the government."

Law & Order turns 300 tonight, and over the past few years and after successfully extending the brand, everyone has been tripping over themselves to explain exactly why Law & Order been so successful. The Los Angeles Times has a pretty comprehensive piece about its staying power. Brian Lowry's gives Gothamist interesting observations, like how L&O subverted the movie-of-the-week genre and a subhead that says, "The by-the-book crime show has undermined TV movies, figured out the perfect series formula (stories, not stars) and succeeded with spinoffs. This is its story. Chung-chung." A companion LA Times piece outlines Law & Order's history of actors and story arc.

Law & Order
In the lives of New Yorkers, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the makers of Law & Order, who consistently churn out topical, interesting, and entertaining programming; and the Law & Order fans, who eagerly watch the show and its offshoots on NBC, TNT, USA, and wherever else possible. These are their stories.

As a part of the New York Times Arts & Leisure weekend, there will be a talk with Law & Order Producer Dick Wolf, Law & Order star Jerry Orbach, and two others guys (criminal defense attorney Bruce Cutler, and NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly), discussing "Law & Order: The Real Reality TV?"