Pink shirt, pink socks and some drama
Joseph R. Lopez, the attorney for reputed mob hitman Frank Calabrese Sr., wore a black suit, neon pink shirt, a black-and-pink striped tie, and subdued pink socks for his opening statement Thursday.
Lopez took the traditional route of reminding jurors of their duty and the importance of the jury system before launching into an attack of the two main witnesses against his client, Frank Calabrese Sr.'s brother, confessed hitman Nick Calabrese, and Frank's son, Frank Jr.
Nick Calabrese has agreed to cooperate with the feds and will testify about the hits he allegedly did with his brother Frank Sr.
Frank Jr. recorded his father when they were both in prison in 1999 on another case. Frank Calabrese Sr. allegedly confessed to mob hits during the father-son chats.
So Frank Calabrese Sr. will not only have to combat his own brother's testimony, but his own words as the feds play several excerpts from the recorded conversations between Frank Sr. and Frank Jr.
Lopez attempted to portray his client as the victim of the dysfunction within the Calabrese family, rather than the cause of it.
Lopez cast Nick Calabrese as the real leader of the street crew rather than Frank Sr.
And he tried to portray Nick Calabrese as a shooter, while brother Frank Calabrese Sr. was more into hand-to-hand combat.
Lopez told the unusual story of Nick Calabrese working at Wrigley Field in the early 1960s and stealing a rifle with a silencer that Lopez claimed was used to shoot birds off the scoreboard.
Outside of court, Lopez swore the story was true.
"Nick was a shooter, he was not a fighter," Lopez said.
Lopez also threw out how Nick Calabrese's first wife was "a bit kookie" and sewed Nick Calabrese's zipper shut because she didn't trust him.
That statement was just one example of the veritable family soap opera Lopez described to explain the bad blood in the family.
Lopez focused most on the relationship between Frank Calabrese Sr. and his son.
At times, Lopez's opening statement was more of a defense of Frank Calabrese Sr. against the charge of being a bad father, than a mob hitman.
Frank Calabrese Sr. hit his son Frank Jr. — but it was only because he was taking drugs, Lopez argued.
There was a wedge between Frank Calabrese Sr. and his son — but only because Frank Jr.'s wife created that wedge and drove it in deep, Lopez said.
Some observers found portions of Lopez's opening memorable, while others said it meandered.
Any thoughts?
What's the deal with this lawyer's outfit? Is this a joke?
The life work Joe Lombardo and Frankie Schweihs in the history of the Chicago Outfit - some of which will be unfolded in this trial is unique to the annals of organized crime in the United States - an national reaching in scope - affecting specifically- after Chicago - Las Vegas and other points west
Joe Lombardo was the only young guy around and very close Tony Accardo - and with Accardo from the early ages of twenty - over fifty five years of knowledge
From Capone to Accardo to Lombardo taking the lead in the 1990's
I think the FBI goes by "Better late then never". The shame is I bet the cases could have been made years ago if it weren't for agents protecting sources.