Hermann, Marc, A.
Thomas Gioeli, alleged acting head of the Colombo crime family.
Former Colombo crime boss Thomas (Tommy Shots) Gioeli told a judge he wanted to testify in his own defense Tuesday then chickened out an hour later.
Gioeli raised the specter of taking the stand while the jury was out of the courtroom in the morning but said he needed time to prepare.
I dont want to jump in a cold pool, he explained.
He asked for an hour and Federal Judge B rian Cogan granted the request.
But after an hourlong huddle with his lawyers about the risky legal maneuver, they apparently talked him out of it.
I do not want to testify, Gioeli declared to the court shortly after 11 a.m.
Gioeli, who has been charged with six murders, has hardly been silent during the trial. Several times, he has heckled witnesses from the defense table.
One of his targets was his cousin Thomas McLaughlin, who was presented as a defense witness and then testified that Gioeli approved a 1991 rubout.
Stop drinking, Gioeli snapped at McLaughlin.
Gioeli would not have been the first Colombo gangster to ignore his lawyers advice.
In 1986, then-boss Carmine (The Snake) Persico represented himself. He was convicted and is serving a life term.
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