Feds oppose bail for 'Junior' Gotti

NEW YORK, July 1 (UPI) -- U.S. prosecutors allege reputed Gambino crime family chief John "Junior" Gotti fatally stabbed a 24-year-old man during a bar brawl in New York in 1983.

Prosecutors made the charge in court papers filed in opposition to Gotti's latest bid to be released on bail while awaiting trial on racketeering conspiracy charges, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

"Gotti stabbed and killed Daniel Silva by his own hand," prosecutors wrote, accusing him for the first time.

They also alleged Gotti "directly participated" in the subsequent killing of an eyewitness to Silva's slaying who had spoken to police about the incident.

The Post says a spokeswoman for the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office declined to say whether Gotti would be formally charged with the killing.