Philadelphia D. A. Bypasses Preliminary Hearing, Opts For Indicting Grand Jury In Mob Killing

Joseph A. Slobodzian at the Philadelphia Inquirer reports on the prosecution of a suspected mob hitman.

Anthony Nicodemo, 41, was arrested Dec. 13 in the daytime slaying of 50-year-old Gino DePietro outside his South Philadelphia home.

The killing occurred as a federal court jury was hearing evidence in the racketeering trial of seven alleged Philadelphia mobsters. Some trial observers speculated about a possible connection between trial and killing, and lawyers feared the news might taint the jury.

As policy, prosecutors do not confirm or deny the existence of a grand jury or the target of the investigation. It is thus impossible to know if some concrete threat or the usual reluctance of witnesses in organized crime cases motivated the decision.

What is known is that Nicodemo's preliminary hearing on murder and related charges was supposed to have been held Wednesday before a Municipal Court judge.

Instead, the hearing was canceled and defense attorney Brian J. McMonagle confirmed that prosecutors had elected to use an indicting grand jury.

You can read the rest of the story via the below link:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20130221_Philadelphia_D_A__bypasses_preliminary_hearing__opts_for_indicting_grand_jury_in_mob_killing.html