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TORONTO — Near the end of a sentencing hearing for a convicted Mafia boss and a cocaine smuggler, following a landmark organized crime trial, the judge asked the two men if they wished to speak.

“I don’t have anything to say, your Honour,” said Giuseppe Ursino, 65, of Bradford, Ont., who is known as Pino and, court heard, was the boss of a Mafia clan north of Toronto. Through an Italian-language interpreter he added: “I don’t feel up to saying anything.”

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Ontario Superior Court Judge Brian O’Marra then turned to Ursino’s co-accused, Cosmin Dracea, known as Chris, 42, of Toronto. After Ursino’s dismissiveness, there was a hint of the perfunctory when he asked him the same question.

Dracea, however, wanted to speak and court hastily made space for him to come forward and address the judge, where he spoke for more than five minutes.

“I tried to find excuses for myself and did not find one — besides being stupid, but that’s not an excuse,” said Dracea.