The Nation - News from Oct. 2, 1987

U.S. Atty. Rudolph W. Giuliani told a federal judge in New York he believed “threats of violence” may have led to the recanted testimony of a mob hit man who turned government witness in the “Pizza Connection” drug trial. Giuliani made his claim in a bid to block convicted Bonanno crime family captain Salvatore Catalano from withdrawing his request for a new trial based on the gunman’s recanting. “There is reason to believe there is evidence of threats of violence” that led to Luigi Ronsisvalle’s recanting of his testimony, Giuliani said. He added that a grand jury was investigating the matter. U.S. District Judge Pierre Leval allowed Catalano to withdraw his motion for a new trial.