The State - News from Dec. 11, 1987

A defense attorney for accused bouquet bombing conspirator Peter Pilaski said he will not call the defendant to the stand. “Now that I’ve heard the whole government case, I’ve decided not to call Mr. Pilaski,” attorney John Milano said in opening arguments, noting that when the San Francisco federal court trial began he had intended his client testify. Pilaski, 53, a wealthy San Francisco landlord, is charged with conspiracy and making a booby-trapped bouquet that he had Shaun Small, 28, his homosexual lover, according to prosecutors, deliver to Pilaski’s estranged wife at her job on Nov. 17, 1986. The device exploded, injuring Melanie Pilaski, 42, and a co-worker. “When I heard just how incredible (Small’s) testimony was and heard him contradict his own testimony, I realized that no reasonable person could convict anyone of anything based on that testimony,” Milano told reporters. Small was convicted and sentenced last August to 15 years in prison.