From trial coverage:


An electronic ''bug'' placed in the former Casella's restaurant in Hoboken, which the Government said was a meeting place for Mr. Manna and his group, turned up a conversation two days after the killing that included this exchange that the Government said was between Frank Daniello, 67 years old, a former Hoboken police officer, and Martin (Motts) Casella, 71, the restaurant owner and Mr. Manna's top lieutenant. Both are co-defendants with the 60-year-old Mr. Manna.

Daniello: Irwin, Irwin Schiff. (unintelligible second voice). The place was jammed; all the people ran out. He was in there with a broad.

Casella: It's a small place though.

Daniello: Bobby picked this kid out.

Casella: It's a small place.

Daniello: It takes guts though to do it like that. This kid is a--.

Casella: Stone killer.

Daniello: He was sitting there with a blond bitch, and they hit him.

In another conversation made three days before the killing, two unidentified men are heard talking in Mr. Casella's presence.

First male: You wanna hit him?

Second male: Irwin Schiff but we'll settle for that. We'll do him good at night. Bobby Manna didn't like CC.

Michael Chertoff, an Assistant United States Attorney, said ''CC'' was a mob code name for Mr. Schiff, based on Construction Coordinators, a New York business in which he held an interest.



….

The plot against John Gotti, said by Federal authorities to head the Gambino family, first came up last Sept. 21 in a conversation among Mr. Manna, Mr. Casella and Mr. Daniello. Mr. Chertoff said the plan was to attack Mr. Gotti near a club he frequented on Woodhaven Boulevard and 101st Avenue in Ozone Park, Queens.

''Wear a disguise,'' Mr. Manna said. ''It's an open place.''

An unidentified man asked: ''Do you know where you'se are going to do this guy?''

''Yeah, on that corner,'' Mr. Casella responded.

''You know, this should be good and fast if it's John Gotti up on the Boulevard and, ah, hundred and one,'' the man said.

The F.B.I. subsequently notified Mr. Gotti of the reported plot, and, according to an Oct. 9 transcript, the Genovese associates learned of the warning.

''Hey, John Gotti knows,'' Mr. Casella said on Oct. 9.

An unidentified man responded, ''John Gotti knows we. . . .''

''That we ordered it?'' another man said.

But the plotting continued, the authorities said. On Jan. 10, Mr. Manna was overheard saying, ''a big hit, John Gotti,'' and then apparently discussing with Mr. DeSciscio and others the selection of a gunman.

Two days later, in a conversation between Mr. Manna and James Napoli, Mr. Manna said: ''Gene Gotti's dead.''

''When are you gonna hit him?'' Mr. Napoli asked.

''Gene Gotti's dead,'' Mr. Manna repeated.

''We're gonna be paying for this, you know, for the rest of our lives,'' Mr. Napoli said.

….


According to cafaro testimony:


Genovese boss Anthony 'Fat Tony' Salerno told him in 1980 that Manna was the new consigliere, Cafaro said. He also told the jury that Vincent 'the Chin' Gigante and Manna ran the family for several months after Salerno suffered a stroke in January 1981. Law enforcement authorities believe Gigante became boss of the Genovese family following Salerno's imprisonment.


Manna approved the killing of Nicholas 'Nat' Masselli, who was shot in the Bronx in August 1982, Cafaro said. Masselli, son of William 'the Butcher' Masselli, had been talking to a special prosecutor investigating former Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan.

…



At his age and given his current health condition, and given the treatment of other similar defendants, wouldn’t be unreasonable to release him. But seems there was ample evidence to convict him and the others.