James “Whitey” Bulger’s attorneys want to interview the confidential source.
A lawyer for accused mobster James “Whitey” Bulger wants prosecutors to reveal the name of a confidential government informant.
During a pretrial hearing Wednesday, attorney Henry Brennan argued that the informant provided details to investigators that would undermine the credibility of two key prosecution witnesses.
The informant allegedly told FBI agents that after reaching their own agreements with prosecutors, former Bulger associates Kevin Weeks and John Martorano said they’d protect others from being investigated.
Brennan said Bulger’s defense team should be allowed to interview the informant, because Weeks and Martorano are expected to testify against Bulger.
According to the Boston Globe, Brennan pointed to Martorano’s 1999 plea deal on murder charges, which required the former hitman to testify against Bulger and corrupt law enforcement agents, but not other suspected criminals, including one-time Winter Hill Gang leader Howard T. Winter.
Brennan said Weeks also lied to investigators about a friend’s alleged involvement in a killing.
“There is information that exists that witnesses did not want to participate or include their friends in their testimony,” Brennan told reporters after the hearing. “And so we want to talk to people. We want to find out the truth.”
In April, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper denied a similar defense motion to obtain the identity of another informant, who Bulger’s attorneys claimed would contradict Weeks’ testimony about a $14 million winning lottery ticket.
Jury selection in Bulger’s trial is scheduled to begin June 4.
He has pleaded not guilty to racketeering and other charges related to 19 murders during the 1970s and 1980s.
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