Jury Deliberates In Gus Boulis Murder Trial

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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - Jury deliberations will resume Tuesday in the murder trial of Miami Subs founder Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis.

Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, 77, faces the death penalty if convicted in the shooting death of Boulis, who was also the former chief of SunCruz Casinos.

The jury deliberated about two and a half hours Monday afternoon after retiring for the day. They are being sequestered because it's a capital case and Moscatiello is facing the death penalty if convicted.

In February 2001, Boulis was shot to death gangland style as he drove away from his Fort Lauderdale office.

Prosecutor Gregg Rossman told the jury that Moscatiello offered a hitman $100-thousand for the murder of Boulis.

"Big Tony says to him 'so you are the guy who is going to do it, you're the guy who is going to kill Gus Boulis, you're the guy who is going to kill the owner of SunCruz," Rossman told the jurors.

Prosecutors say Moscatiello ordered a hitman to kill Boulis who was trying to regain control of his SunCruz gambling business. One of the new owners Adam Kidan was feuding with Boulis and hired Moscatiello who has alleged mob ties to protect him.

"His way of protection was to take Gus Boulis out," said Rossman.

Boulis and Kidan, at the time of his death, were locked in a bitter struggle over control of SunCruz.

Moscaitello claims it was Kidan who wanted Boulis dead.

"And you know his motive," defense attorney Kenneth Malnick told the jury, "He was afraid Boulis was gonna kill him so he struck first."

Moscatiello's first trial in 2013 ended in mistrial when his attorney became ill.

His co-defendant Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari was convicted of murder and is serving a life prison term.

Deliberations are set to resume Tuesday at 9 AM.