Steven Seagal says Mafia family considered killing him

LOS ANGELES - A 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 seriously considered killing him if he did not cooperate.

Mr 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 livelihood and his family.

He described to jurors how a crew of Gambino family mobsters intimidated him on a number of occasions after he fell out with his former business partner, Jules Nasso. In particular, he pointed to Sonny Ciccone, a defendant in the case, saying he had demanded NZ$272, 000 for every movie.

After one meeting in 2000, Mr 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, Mr Seagal said, Mr Ciccone told him: "Look at me when I talk to you. We're proud people. ... Work with Jules and we'll split the pie."

Mr 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 think to testify in a case like this could put me and my family in grave danger," he said. "I still think that. And it could destroy my livelihood and I have six children to feed."

The defence was expected to paint Mr Seagal as a "pathological liar" who was asked for money to repay a $908,000 loan he took out to pay off a tax bill. In all seven alleged members of the Gambino family, including suspected boss Peter Gotti, are on trial on racketeering charges.

- INDEPENDENT