Metro

Rigger is crane ‘fall guy,’ lawyer

The master rigger on trial in the deadly crane collapse that killed seven people is a “fall guy” for a haphazard government investigation into the deadly incident, his lawyer said yesterday.

In closing arguments, Arthur Aidala told Justice Roger Hayes that William Rapetti considered the six workers who died in the horrific 2008 East 51st Street disaster his “work family,” and he never would have done anything to harm them.

He said that while prosecutors tried to portray his client as “Wild Bill” and “Reckless Rapetti,” “he’s not putting his guys at risk. He’s not that kind of guy.”

Prosecutor Deborah Hickey said it Rapetti’s “inexcusable” choices caused. She said a worn-out strap, inspected and OK’d by Rapetti, snapped, causing the collapse.

She claimed federal, state and city investigators all agree that’s what happened, but Aidala said they all overlooked other problems at the site.

Hayes is expected to rule Thursday.

dareh.gregorian@nypost.com