Gotti accused of jury tampering

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Curtis Silwa, the Guardian Angel chief and radio host, has accused reputed Mafioso John "Junior" Gotti of jury tampering in Gotti's kidnapping trial.

Manhattan Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin declared a mistrial after the jury reported itself deadlocked on both the conspiracy and kidnapping charges.

Sliwa and Gotti lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman exchanged verbal blows in a lively on-air brawl during the Guardian Angel's radio show in which leveled his jury tampering charge, the New York Post said.

"The fix was in on this jury," he repeated his accusation in a speech later.

Sliwa, who was shot twice when two Gambino henchmen allegedly kidnapped him in a stolen cab in 1992, vowed that his fight would continue.