Former Lucchese hit man Thomas Ricciardi testified yesterday at the trial against reputed Genovese capo Michael "Mikey Cigars" Coppola who is charged with the 1977 slaying of John "Johnny Coca-Cola" Lardiere and decades-long extortion against Local 1235 of the International Longshoremen's Association.
From Kati Cornell at the New York Post:
Michael "Mikey Cigars" Coppola told pals he didn't want to kill mob associate John "Johnny Coca Cola" Lardiere, but had to do his duty for the crime family, former Luchese hit man Thomas Ricciardi said. "You gotta do what you gotta do and sometimes you do it with tears in your eyes," Coppola, now 63, allegedly told Ricciardi, 57, in 1983. "He died like a man," Coppola allegedly said as he explained that it took two tries to kill Lardiere in the parking lot of the Red Bull Inn in Somerset, NJ, because his gun jammed. The wounded Lardiere looked Coppola in the eyes and sneered, "What are you gonna do now, tough guy?" as the accused killer whipped out a second gun and fired four more shots.
From John Marzulli at the Daily News:
"What I got out of it was I don't think he agreed with the decision [to kill Lardiere]," Ricciardi, 57, told Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Dennehy. Coppola made it clear in their conversation that he was in no position to question the orders from Mafia superiors. "Don't get me wrong ... you may not agree with what you gotta do, but you gotta do what you gotta do," Ricciardi quoted Coppola as saying.
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