BOSTON – James “Whitey” Bulger’s lawyers asked for – but were denied – a four-day recess in his racketeering trial, after arguing they have been overwhelmed by trial preparation and a schedule that has left the 83-year old gangster “exhausted.”
“Simply put, the defendant’s counsel have hit a wall, and are unable to proceed further without additional time to prepare for upcoming witnesses,” Bulger’s lawyers said in a motion filed before court opened Thursday.
There was evidence at the trial, including more than 500 pages of FBI reports, that Bulger was a long-time, FBI informant who gave up fellow South Boston criminals – not to mention, his own partners – without hesitation. Bulger used the informant relationship to co-opt the FBI, providing gifts and cash to as many as six agents.
