Mobster wants murder plot charge tossed

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The lawyer for a reputed mobster accused in a murder-for-hire plot asked a Federal Court judge Monday to have the charges against his client dropped.

Captured on video for first time in about 20 years, reputed mafia capo regime Anthony "The Saint" St. Laurent arrived at the courthouse in Providence by ambulance.

St. Laurent is accused of three times trying to hire someone to kill Robert "Bobby" DeLuca, a fellow captain in the Patriarca crime family.

During the hearing, the reputed mobster's attorney, Victor Beretta, Jr., argued a 2006 plea deal should protect St. Laurent against the murder-for-hire charges. Beretta said because his client pleaded guilty to extortion charges, prosecutors promised not to file murder-for-hire charges.

Retired prosecutor James Leavey testified Monday that no such agreement existed.

Two of the three alleged murder-for-hire attempts happened before St. Laurent began serving a five year sentence at Fort Devens for the extortion wrap.

Prosecutors say it was from behind bars where St. Laurent tried to order the third, unsuccessful hit on DeLuca.

The judge is expected to make a ruling within a matter of days.