"Cadillac" Frank Salemme. (FBI)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- An argumentative Steven "The Rifleman" Flemmi wrapped up testimony in the murder trial of "Cadillac" Frank Salemme Friday--and there were several testy exchanges during cross examination.
Salemme is on trial in the murder of former Channel Nightclub owner Stephen DiSarro, whose remains were found behind an abandoned Providence, Rhode Island mill in 2016. Flemmi is the prosecution's star witness in the case. He claims to have witnessed DiSarro's murder.
On Thursday, in testimony filled with accounts of murder after murder, Flemmi said he had known DiSarro's days were numbered, because Salemme was becoming increasingly concerned that DiSarro would start talking to federal investigators. At the time, a grand jury was looking into the crime connections of the Channel Nightclub, which DiSarro ran and which Salemme had a hidden interest in.
Flemmi said he just happened to be driving by Salemmi's house in Sharon the day of DiSarro's murder, and decided to stop by because he knew Salemme wanted to see him. He said he walked into the home to see Salemme's son strangling DiSarro--while Paul Weadick held his feet down and Salemme watched.
Flemmi first told the FBI about the murder in 2003, as part of the plea deal that ultimately spared him from the death penalty.
On cross examination, defense attorney Steve Boozang tried to paint the former mobster as a liar, murderer, and thief who would do anything to stay out of jail.
Boozang asked Flemmi if he was hoping to avoid spending the rest of his life in jail by giving his testimony in this case. But Flemmi answered that, though he made a deal with the government, they promised him nothing.
Flemmi admitted to Boozang that he lied to the FBI agents who protected him for years. He said he would give info to mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger, who then passed it on to FBI agent John Connolly. Flemmi said he would frequently divert attention away from himself after murders and onto other factions of the mob.
The judge in the case told jurors they were in the home stretch of the case, and that it could be given to them for deliberation as soon as next week.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports