Currently, television cameras are essentially prohibited from New York State trial courts. From 1987 to 1997 the New York State legislature authorized an experimental period, permitting the limited television broadcast of criminal trials. During that period, Mr. Shargel was one of the lead lawyers in People v. John Gotti and Anthony Guerrieri. Gotti and Guerrieri were charged with assault and conspiracy to commit assault. The indictment focused on the allegation that Gotti and Guerrieri had ordered the shooting of Carpenter’s Union official, John O’Connor. Both defendants were acquitted.

In this section, Mr. Shargel cross examines FBI Special Agent Koenig, the chief FBI expert on the authenticity of the tape recordings, and Ed Wright, a New York State investigator who prepared transcripts of the recordings. In addition, you may view the closing arguments from the trial.

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