Actor Seagal tells of Mafia intimidation

By ANDREW GUMBELL in Los Angeles

Highly reluctant Steven Seagal took the stand in a New York mafia trial yesterday and testified that the Gambino family had tried to prise money from him from his movie earnings - and considered killing him if he did not co-operate.

Seagal flew into New York from a film set in Thailand to take the witness stand, despite fears he has expressed to prosecutors that his testimony could endanger his family and his livelihood.

He described to jurors how Gambino family mobsters intimidated him after he fell out with his former business partner, Jules Nasso. He pointed to Sonny Ciccone, a defendant in the case, saying he had demanded US$150,000 ($271,000) for every movie. After one meeting in 2000, Seagal said, one of the men present turned to him and said: "If you would have said the wrong thing, they would have killed you."

On another occasion, Seagal said, Ciccone told him: "Look at me when I talk to you. We're proud people ... Work with Jules and we'll split the pie."

Seagal, dogged by accusations of Mafia ties throughout his career, agreed to testify only after being granted immunity from prosecution. Nevertheless, he told a federal grand jury last year that he had serious misgivings. "I still think that. It could destroy my livelihood and I have six children to feed."

- INDEPENDENT