Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)

Lawyer: Man who killed mob boss thought he was helping Trump

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NEW YORK (AP) >> A man charged with killing a reputed New York mob boss was deluded by internet conspiracy theories and thought he was helping President Donald Trump defend Democracy, his attorney said in court papers filed Friday.

Anthony Comello is facing murder charges in the March 13 shooting of Francesco “Franky Boy” Cali, an alleged leader in the Gambino crime family.

In a legal filing, attorney Robert Gottleib said Comello was gripped by an irrational belief that Cali was part of a “deep state” that secretly controls the U.S., and went to the gangster’s home on Staten Island with handcuffs with the intention of arresting him.

“Mr. Comello became certain that he was enjoying the protection of President Trump himself, and that he had the president’s full support,” Gottlieb wrote in court papers obtained by The New York Times.

During the encounter, though, Cali was shot multiple times.

Gottlieb said he planned to submit evidence to support his contention that Comello should be in psychiatri­c treatment because of his mental state, not prosecuted.

At an early court appearance following his arrest, Comello displayed writing on his hand that included the letter “Q,” which is associated with QAnon, a conspiracy theory that suggests a “deep state” plot against Trump.

“Mr. Comello’s support for ‘QAnon’ went beyond mere participat­ion in a radical political organizati­on,” Gottlieb said.

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