Witness Interview: Vincent Spinelli, loaned money to the victim

Friday, November 22, 2002 - 7:23 p.m.

The witness was identified as a business associate of the victim. He was interviewed at the Old Venice restaurant in Oxford, Mississippi. The interview was conducted by Detectives Murphy and Armstrong, and was recorded on audio tape with the witness's knowledge and consent.

TA = Detective T. Armstrong

SM = Detective S. Murphy

VS = Vincent Spinelli

SM: Please state your full name and address for the record.

VS: Vincent A. Spinelli, 4002 Woodlawn Road.

SM: Thanks. And thank you for being so cooperative.

VS: You're just in time for dessert. Espresso?

SM: Uh, no thanks. Mr. Spinelli, what do you do for a living?

VS: Come on. You know that.

TA: For the record, Mr. Spinelli. Please.

VS: Well, Detectives, as we've discussed before, I'm in the business of assisting the less fortunate.

SM: That's an interesting way of putting it.

TA: Yeah, spare us the sweet talk. What about the money?

VS: Are you in a rush? Cause I'm trying to enjoy my meal here. You know, relax and take it easy. La dolce vita.

TA: The money, Mr. Spinelli.

VS: Okay, okay. Let's just say I like to help people out. People who need money, maybe they need it fast, and they can't get it no other way. I give them what they need, and charge a little interest.

TA: You call 25 percent a little interest?

VS: Hey, I gotta cover my risk. I gotta make a living here.

TA: Right. And have an espresso with dessert.

VS: Do you have a reason to be here tonight, or are you just harassing me as per usual? 'Cause I think I have a right to finish my meal in peace.

TA: Tell me, Mr. Spinelli. What happens if the recipients of your goodwill don't repay their loans?

VS: We make a reasonable effort to get the money back. You know, go have a talk and see what the problem is. After that, it's usually not an issue.

SM: And what if it is?

VS: Well, then we look at other avenues of payment. Family members, friends.

SM: And what if that doesn't work?

VS: I do whatever it takes to get the money back. Hey, I gotta protect my investment.

TA: And is that what happened with Wenzel Hitzig? Maybe you did what it takes, as you put it, and it got out of hand?

VS: Hey, I didn't have nothing to do with that.

TA: But you knew Mr. Hitzig. You were, how do you say, helping him.

VS: Sure. He had a little project going and needed money. Venture capital.

TA: Only he couldn't get funding from Silicon Valley.

VS: What can I say? The economy's a bitch.

SM: How much did you loan him?

VS: Twenty Gs.

SM: At what rate?

VS: Five hundred a month for 10 years.

SM: That's sixty thousand dollars. Quite a markup.

VS: Hey, he had options. He could pay me off for thirty K the first year, twenty-five the second, twenty-three the third. You get the picture.

TA: Uh huh. Still sounds like a sweet deal for you.

VS: He was optimistic about his computer game, you know? He thought it had potential. Paying me would be a cinch with all the dough he would get. That kind of thing.

SM: And was it?

VS: As far as I know. Hardly ever missed a payment.

SM: Hardly ever?

VS: The first month he had a little trouble. I had my people pay him a visit in Atlanta, and they gave him a little reminder he had to be prompt.

SM: When was that?

VS: We met about a year ago, November last year. So that would've been December.

TA: And this so-called reminder, did it involve a hospital stay?

VS: I never condone violence. Unless it's in defense.

TA: In defense of your money you mean.

VS: Hey, you wanna continue, or shall I get the check now? 'Cause I'm feeling a little insulted.

SM: Tell us about the visit to Atlanta, Mr. Spinelli. What happened?

VS: Nothing. My people just reminded him to pay his bills, that's all. You know, left a little reminder in his office. I heard that some of Wenzel's office furniture wasn't so sturdy and got broken when my people tried to sit down. It was too bad, but accidents happen sometimes. That's all. I think Wenzel got the message anyway. Capisce?

TA: Right. And so if Mr. Hitzig missed another payment, say, last month's payment, what would be the second reminder notice? Maybe a nose job courtesy of one of your people?

VS: Don't be ridiculous. What am I, a goon? I'm trying to be civilized here. Anyway like I said, Wenzel made all his payments. Until now, of course.

SM: Of course. And what about now, Mr. Spinelli? Was the loan paid off?

VS: He still owed me.

SM: And what happens when one of your debtors dies?

VS: I've insured my assets, if that's what you mean. I'm covered for defaults due to acts of God.

TA: Acts of God. Is that what you call murder in cold blood?

VS: Hey, I didn't lay a hand on him.

TA: What about your people?

VS: I didn't have nothing to do with it. Like I said.

SM: When did you last see Mr. Hitzig?

VS: We didn't meet on a regular basis. He sent his checks to my P.O. box. The only time I saw him, personally, was last November.

SM: And your people?

VS: They would've seen him in December.

SM: Mr. Spinelli, where were you the day of November 4 this year?

VS: I resent that. I already told you I didn't have nothing to do with Wenzel getting killed.

TA: Just tell us, Mr. Spinelli. Or would you like to continue the conversation at headquarters?

VS: Hey, lay off already. Sure I can tell you where I was. I was with a lady friend of mine. We went to visit one of my associates in Biloxi. It was the day before the election so we were talking politics.

SM: Uh huh. And the name of your lady friend is what?

VS: I don't want to name names. She's married, capisce?

SM: What about this so-called associate?

VS: I promise my clients confidentiality, Detectives. I can't tell you that without betraying his confidence.

SM: So you're saying you can't name anyone who saw you that day?

VS: Okay, okay. My driver, Donny. He'd be happy to talk with you.

TA: Look, Mr. Spinelli, not to put too fine a point on it, but unless you give us someone who isn't on your payroll, we're going to have to consider you a suspect.

VS: That's ridiculous! I told you, I don't even know Wenzel. I've never hardly seen him.

TA: Is that so, Mr. Spinelli? What about the meeting Mr. Hitzig had at Abner's the night before he was killed?

VS: What? I don't know nothing about no meeting!

TA: Right. Let me guess. You were with your lady friend, whose name you won't give us.

VS: This has gone far enough. I don't wanna talk no more. You wanna talk to me, you can call me at my office and I'll get my lawyer.

SM: Whatever you like, Mr. Spinelli.

VS: Cameriere! Check please.

TA: Ciao, Mr. Spinelli. Expect a visit.

End interview 7:49 p.m.