Surprise evidence flares tempers at Salemme trial

BOSTON — In the mob trial of Frank Salemme, his lawyers produce a surprise picture that could cast doubt on a key witness.

Salemme and a codefendant are accused of murdering a South Boston nightclub owner in 1993 and burying his body in providence.

Star witness Stephen ‘The Rifleman’ Flemmi told the jury he witnessed the actual murder, but this new picture could shed doubt on Flemmi's story.

The defense claims the picture was taken on Mother's Day 1993. It was only shown to Steven Flemmi – so we don’t know what’s in it.

But the picture allegedly shows Flemmi with Frank Salemme's family at a Boston restaurant.

And the defense claims this picture was taken the day before victim Steven DiSarro was killed.

In Flemmi’s third day of testimony in federal court, prosecutors alleged Salemme ordered the 1993 hit on DiSarro out of concern that DiSarro would rat him out to the feds.

Flemmi claims he stumbled upon DiSarro's murder.

MORE: Lawyer: Ex-Mafia boss charged in 1993 slaying 'no angel'

That he walked into Salemme's Sharon home, just as Salemme's now dead son Frank Junior strangled him, and co-defendant Paul Weadick held DiSsarro's body.

Flemmi testified an associate told him Frank Salemme wanted to see him, so Flemmi said he drove to the Sharon home on Monday, May 10, 1993, and stumbled upon the murder.

But the day before was Mother's Day.

And in a surprise move, Salemme's lawyer produced a picture of Flemmi with Salemme's family at a Boston restaurant.

Boston 25's Bob Ward tweeted the court proceedings Friday
You can find more details from trial here.

Flemmi angrily denied he was with the Salemme's on that Mother's Day.

Flemmi maintains he hadn't seen Salemme for days and that's why he unexpectedly stopped by the house and witnessed the murder.

On the stand, Flemmi said it was him in the picture, but said he didn’t know when it was taken.

He said it was definitely not Mother’s Day.

After the jury left the courtroom, prosecutor Fred Wyshak angrily called the picture a slimy defense practice.

The government doesn’t know when the picture was taken.

The trial is set to resume Monday.

MORE: 'Frank wanted to kill him': Boston mobsters square off in federal court

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