left it parked in Canarsie, Brooklyn, where police found it.

However DeSimmone and Edwards were close friends who had known each other since they were young.

DeSimmone was told by Vario he would become an official member of the mob if he killed Edwards, so DeSimmone shot his friend in the head five times.

Scene: Police cordon off an area around a stolen black van discovered in front of 595 East 95th Street in Brooklyn in 1979, following the Lufthansa heist +12
Scene: Police cordon off an area around a stolen black van discovered in front of 595 East 95th Street in Brooklyn in 1979, following the Lufthansa heist
Meanwhile, the Gambinos had wanted DeSimmone dead for years because he had killed two of their good men.

When Gotti heard that DeSimmone was up for a promotion, he had a meeting with Vario, and asked permission to take out DeSimmone.

Vario knew the police would soon be on their tale because of the sketch of DeSimmone the police got from the robbery.

Also DeSimmone had recently tried to sexually assault Hills's wife, Karen, while Hill was in prison.

The bigger issue was that Vario was having an affair with Karen at the time.

Vario gave Gotti permission to kill DeSimmone, The Post reported.

On the night that DeSimmone was meant to be unducted into the mob, he was driven to Belmont in The Bronx by Vario's son.

The heist inspired the hit movie Goodfellas, released in 1990, starring (L-R) Joe Pesci, Ray Liota and Robert de Niro +12
The heist inspired the hit movie Goodfellas, released in 1990, starring (L-R) Joe Pesci, Ray Liota and Robert de Niro
DeSimone wore 'a double-breasted black Bill Blass suit, a starched blue shirt and beige silk tie',according to Hill's book.

He was taken to the basement of Don Vito's restaurant, where a group of men were playing cards.

DeSimmone was shocked to see Gotti there, under the impression it was just be a Lucchese affair for his big night.

 'Welcome, Tommy. Congratulations!' Gotti said. 'Pull a chair up to the table and sit comfortably. This is not an ordinary day in your life, I want you to know.'

DeSimone sat down. Within three seconds, 'Gotti pulled out a silencer-equipped .38 Colt Magnum from his inner breast pocket and drilled three bullets into DeSimone's cranium. PAH . . . PAH . . . PAH.

'DeSimone's head blasted forward, and with the thud of a ­10-pound boulder slumped onto the card table, blood seeping and leaching onto the green felt ­tabletop.

'Gotti buttoned his camel cashmere overcoat, straightened the lapels and walked out of the room with a vaunting stride,' the book said.

Henry Hill collaborated with Nicholas Pileggi on Wiseguy, the 1986 book that was the basis of Goodfellas.