NATION IN BRIEF : NEW YORK : Judge OKs Use of Tapes at Gotti Trial

A judge approved use of 750 hours of conversations obtained by wiretap as evidence in the assault trial of reputed mob boss John Gotti, including one in which he allegedly told his underlings to “bust up” a union boss. The ruling by Acting Justice Jeffrey Atlas at state Supreme Court in Manhattan clears the way for the assault trial of Gotti, 48, the reputed godfather of the Gambino crime family. The tapes are considered crucial evidence against Gotti and his co-defendant, Anthony Guerrieri, 60. Both are charged with conspiracy and assault for allegedly arranging the 1986 shooting of carpenters union leader John O’Connor.