Jury Deliberations In 'Big Tony' Sentencing Phase To Begin Thursday
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A jury will begin deliberating Thursday whether to send Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello to his death.
The 76-year-old was convicted in July of first degree murder in the execution style killing of Miami Subs founder Gus Boulis.
On Wednesday the same jury who convicted him heard testimony to decide his punishment.
They can vote for death by lethal injection or life in prison.
Moscatiello's lawyers called several witnesses to illustrate that he should not be sentenced to death.
Thomas Moscatiello, the defendant's brother, described him as a devoted husband, father and brother.
"He taught me to ride a bike," he remembered, saying the two are nine years apart but forged a relationship that has deepened over the years.
Asked about his brother's attributes, Thomas said "his sense of humor, wit and compassion."
An image vastly different from the cold hearted killer prosecutors say Moscatiello is, that he arranged to have a hit man corner Boulis and gun him down in traffic, execution style back in 2001.
It happened while Boulis was locked in a bitter feud with the new owners of his Sun Cruz Casino business.
At the penalty phase hearing, Boulis' nephew read a letter on the family's profound loss.
"We lost a father, a brother," he read. "He was the best person I ever knew a pillar in the community."
The jury returns at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to hear closing arguments and then begin deliberations.
