The most famous figure in New York Mafia circles is going on trial in a showdown that federal authorities hope will finally end his Houdini-like ability to escape charges.

Jury selection is scheduled to start in a Manhattan federal court, where John Gotti Jr, 45, is accused of a role in three gangland slayings during a lengthy racketeering career in New York and Florida.

But Mr Gotti, son of the late Gambino crime family boss "Dapper Don" John Gotti, says he's not even part of the Cosa Nostra.

No less than three other racketeering trials in the last five years have ended without verdict against Mr Gotti. His lawyers claim the authorities are pursuing a vendetta against a reformed man.

Prosecutors are expected to produce a slew of damaging testimony supporting the 26 page indictment against Mr Gotti, whom they allege rose through the ranks to serve as acting boss after his infamous father's imprisonment.

Key evidence will come from turncoats - what the authorities call "cooperating witnesses" and Mr Gotti's supporters term "rats."

A star witness could be Mr Gotti's one-time friend, John Alite, a tough former goodfella, who says Mr Gotti enthusiastically took up his duties as a Mafia captain.

Testifying last February against another former comrade, a hitman called Charles Carneglia, Mr Alite said Mr Gotti ordered the killing of gangster Louis DiBono in the underground car park of the World Trade Centre in 1990.

"This was (Gotti's) first job as a captain to kill somebody and he wanted to do it right," Mr Alite said, describing how Mr Gotti was "elated" when he heard that the rubout was complete.

Mr Alite also testified that Mr Gotti was behind several other killings.

The defence says Mr Gotti is not the successor to his father, who died in prison in 2002. His lawyers in July filed a challenge accusing the Federal Bureau of Investigation of "egregious misconduct" in trying to frame Mr Gotti and rehash evidence which had failed in previous trials.

They accused the FBI of mounting a "win at all costs" strategy, the New York Daily News reported.

Other than attempting to discredit the turncoats, defense lawyers are also expected to play tape recordings of Mr Gotti's prison conversations from when he served time after pleading guilty to racketeering in 1999, and also with his father.

The conversations, some of which have been played at the earlier trials, demonstrate that Mr Gotti had left organised crime, his lawyers contend.

The showdown promises a fascinating contest and enough gory testimony to fill many pages of New York's voracious tabloids.