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| 'Mafia' trial starts in Chicago | 'Mafia' trial starts in Chicago |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Jury selection has begun in Chicago in what is being billed as the biggest US organised crime trial in years. | Jury selection has begun in Chicago in what is being billed as the biggest US organised crime trial in years. |
| Joey "the Clown" Lombardo, who faces charges of racketeering, is alleged to have been the boss of a gang called the Chicago Outfit in the 1970s and 80s. | |
| Four alleged associates are also going on trial. All five have pleaded not guilty. Investigators say at least 18 murders can be linked to the gang. | Four alleged associates are also going on trial. All five have pleaded not guilty. Investigators say at least 18 murders can be linked to the gang. |
| The judge has ordered an anonymous jury for the trial, due to take four months. | The judge has ordered an anonymous jury for the trial, due to take four months. |
| Mr Lombardo, 78, who was arrested early last year, reportedly earned his nickname "the Clown" because of his love of wisecracks. | |
| The other defendants standing trial are James Marcello, 65, Frank Calabrese Senior, 70, Paul Schiro, 69 and former Chicago police officer Anthony Doyle, 62. | The other defendants standing trial are James Marcello, 65, Frank Calabrese Senior, 70, Paul Schiro, 69 and former Chicago police officer Anthony Doyle, 62. |
| Star witness | Star witness |
| The FBI's investigation has been known as Operation Family Secrets because the man expected to be the prosecution's star witness, Nicholas Calabrese, is the brother of defendant Frank Calabrese. | The FBI's investigation has been known as Operation Family Secrets because the man expected to be the prosecution's star witness, Nicholas Calabrese, is the brother of defendant Frank Calabrese. |
| Nicholas, who says he was a member of the Outfit for years, has pleaded guilty to several charges and has told prosecutors he has information on many killings allegedly carried out by the gang. | Nicholas, who says he was a member of the Outfit for years, has pleaded guilty to several charges and has told prosecutors he has information on many killings allegedly carried out by the gang. |
| Among them is that of gangster Tony Spilotro, who, with his brother Michael, was beaten to death and buried in a cornfield in Indiana. | Among them is that of gangster Tony Spilotro, who, with his brother Michael, was beaten to death and buried in a cornfield in Indiana. |
| The murders were featured in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film Casino. | The murders were featured in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film Casino. |
| The gang - which was once run by notorious gangster Al Capone - ran gambling, pornography and extortionate lending operations during the 1970s and 80s. | The gang - which was once run by notorious gangster Al Capone - ran gambling, pornography and extortionate lending operations during the 1970s and 80s. |
| District Judge James Zagel decided to order an anonymous jury after the prosecution cited safety concerns. | District Judge James Zagel decided to order an anonymous jury after the prosecution cited safety concerns. |
| Defence lawyers have objected on the grounds it will predispose the jurors to think the defendants must be dangerous. | Defence lawyers have objected on the grounds it will predispose the jurors to think the defendants must be dangerous. |