Originally Posted By: olivant
I always wondered why they bothered to put his suitcase in the trunk.

The same reason why they let Paulie drive around half a day in NYC. As Clemenza put it: "Relax. Make them relax."
Anyway, I also think there were way too may witnesses. I mean, Clemenza, Tom, Rocco, Michael were already four. The risk that a soldier's testifying would be just too high.