More legal wrangling in 'Mafia Cops' case

The "Mafia Cops" were arraigned yesterday on a new murder indictment, but the federal judge hearing the case again was puzzled by the government's tactics in bringing the latest charges.

Louis Eppolito, 56, and Stephen Caracappa, 63, entered not guilty pleas to the new indictment filed last week. The new charges added an additional murder allegation against Eppolito, as well as others against Caracappa alleging falsification of identification documents.

Both defendants were arrested in March on charges that they worked as moles for the mob and that from 1986 to 1992, they played roles in eight murders, two attempted murders and a murder conspiracy.

In recent months, federal Judge Jack B. Weinstein in Brooklyn has expressed doubts about whether the key racketeering conspiracy charge, which includes the murders, was within the statute of limitations. To address Weinstein's concerns, federal prosecutors retooled their indictment.

Yesterday, Weinstein questioned why prosecutors chose not to bring federal murder-for-hire charges, which he believes could easily get around the potential legal problems with the indictment. He also indicated the case could still have statute of limitations problems.