Salemme co-defendant: Alleged mob ties irrelevant

A co-defendant facing murder charges with former mob boss Frank Salemme for the 1993 strangulation of a would-be snitch wants to muzzle prosecutors as they present the case against him, according to court filings.

Paul M. Weadick’s past association with organized crime figures, as well as his alleged roles within La Cosa Nostra, are not relevant, his lawyers William Crowe and Mark Shea wrote.

“Nothing in the evidence the Government seeks to introduce against Mr. Weadick, (the allegations of his association with Frank Salemme, Jr. in general, his prior arrest for alleged involvement in a ‘drug ripoff’ in 1987, his being armed during the 1990s, his supposed involvement in drug dealing and collecting “rent” from loansharks and bookmakers, and an allegation that he participated in the murder of Michael Romano, Jr., in particular), has any relevance whatsoever to the charged crime,” his lawyers argued.

Prosecutors also want to include the fact Frank Salemme Jr. picked up Weadick from prison in 1989. In a filing Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak said all of the defendant’s prior acts show the long, trusting relationship he had with the Salemmes.

“Contrary to the Defendant’s claim, the Government does not seek to introduce the proffered evidence to show he has a propensity to engage in criminal activity,” prosecutors wrote. “The evidence demonstrates that the Defendant and Francis P. Salemme, Jr. enjoyed a long-standing relationship. The evidence helps to explain why the Salemmes would rely on the Defendant to assist in the murder and remain silent about it. The evidence demonstrates a solid preexisting association.”

Salemme and Weadick are expected to go on trial later this month for the 1993 strangulation death of Steven DiSarro who lay buried behind a mill in Providence until 2016.