A New York mafia don will be dressed to kill when his long delayed death-penalty murder trial starts – thanks to a sartorially sympathetic judge.
Vincent Basciano, a Cosa Nostra wise guy known for his impeccable haircuts, can look forward to an entire new wardrobe in the tradition of famously well-turned-out killers like “Dapper Don” John Gotti.
Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis signed the unusual court order that: “five sets of clothing, including but not limited to, undershirts, socks, shoes, dress shirts, suit pants and suit jackets, be made available to Basciano prior to each court date in this case.”
Mr Basciano, known as “Vinny Gorgeous,” will want to avoid the fashion disaster at his last murder trial in 2007, when he ran out of clean clothes and had to borrow a shirt from the judge. The former boss of the Bonanno crime family, Basciano was convicted in that trial and sentenced to life in prison.
He faces execution in the new trial, where he is accused of murdering another mobster. (AFP)
Wrong jets
Hundreds of posters decorating Russian streets for a military holiday accidentally replaced Russian planes with Chinese fighter jets, an official admitted yesterday.
Posters displayed in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg showed a plane against a national flag. But instead of a Russian jet, it was in fact a Chinese Chengdu J-10, or Vigorous Dragon.
The slip, reproduced in around 250 posters, was an error by the designer, who was unfamiliar with military planes, said the head of the city’s media committee, Alexander Korennikov. “It was the designer’s fault. If you are not a specialist in military hardware, it is an easy thing to do,” he said.
“The problem was that the images were printed and put up before being checked and agreed with the media committee.” (AFP)
Beer cheer
A German brewery is promoting its alcohol-free beer as a sports drink in the US.
Erdinger describes it as an isotonic beverage with natural regenerative powers that help athletes recover from a workout.
Several were seen drinking it from giant mugs on the podium at the World Cup biathlons held this month in northern Maine. (PA)
‘Break a leg’
Actress Donna Air is set to battle on with a theatre role after suffering a leg injury in a car accident – by appearing on crutches.
The star is due to appear in a new stage production in London next month but has been left temporarily unable to walk following the bump at the weekend.
Former Byker Grove actress and Big Breakfast host Ms Air has been rehearsing for psychological drama The Watcher and has indicated she plans to carry on preparing for the two-hander show at the Waterloo East Theatre in which she stars opposite Jon Shaw. (PA)
Pasty protection
Soon only pasties made in Cornwall will be able to be labelled as a Cornish pasty.
The world-famous treat has overcome a final legal hurdle and is expected to be awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) by the European Commission next month.
It means only Cornish pasties made in Cornwall and following the traditional recipe can be called Cornish pasties. (PA)
Slice of luck
An elderly woman’s love of pizza may have saved her life.
For the last three years Jean Wilson had a pepperoni special every day from a delivery service in Memphis, Tennessee.
When she failed to order for three days the delivery driver contacted police who found she had fallen and was unable to get up. She is now recovering in hospital. (PA)
Stolen moment
Romantic photos of singer Shakira holding hands with Barcelona football player Gerard Pique circulating on the internet have been stolen by a hacker from a Spanish news agency.
The agency Gtres-Online had been planning to sell the pictures to Spanish and other publications as exclusives.
The shots of the couple outside a Barcelona restaurant were downloaded to a Shakira fan website. (PA)
‘Baby’ delighted
The world’s first test tube baby said she was “delighted” that Robert Edwards, the pioneering scientist who made her birth possible, has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine.
Louise Brown, in a joint statement with her mother Lesley, said: “It’s fantastic news, me and mum are so glad that one of the pioneers of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) has been given the recognition he deserves.
“We hold Bob in great affection and are delighted to send our personal congratulations to him and his family at this time.”
Louise’s birth in 1978 was the first to stem from the groundbreaking work of Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, a gynaecologic surgeon. She is now a mother herself, having given birth by natural means. (AFP)
Killer shrimp
A “killer” shrimp has invaded UK waters and is feeding on native fish and insect larvae, a water company warned.
Dubbed the “killer shrimp” by biologists for its appetite, it often kills its prey and leaves it uneaten.
North West water provider United Utilities says a new fishing craze from the US is behind the spread of the crustacean and has banned the use of floating tubes at all its recreational reservoirs across the North West. (PA)