Bulger attorney J. W. Carney Jr.
Credit: Michael Naughton/Metro
Prosecutors said they expect to finish presenting their case against the alleged mob boss within a week or 10 days.
A leader of the Winter Hill Gang who was described as a sadistic killer who seemed to take pleasure in murders was expected to testify against Bulger in the coming days.
Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, who was sentenced to life in prison after agreeing to plead guilty to 10 murders, will testify against Bulger, prosecutors said.
Flemmi was Bugler’s partner for decades as the duo allegedly shook down drug dealers for money, charged bookmakers to operate and brought an end to people’s lives.
Originally expected to last well into September, the trial of alleged mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger seems to be moving along at a quicker than anticipated pace.
Assistant US Attorney Brian Kelly told Judge Denise Casper that the government expect to finish presenting evidence against Bulger in the next 7 to 10 days.
As of Friday, about 46 witnesses have been called to testify by the government including confessed Winter Hill Gang member Kevin Weeks and confessed murderer John Martorano.
Kelly said there are about 20 witnesses left to go, bringing to total to about 66 government witnesses against Bulger.
The government’s proposed witness list included 83 names, but sides are not bound to call every witness they present as potentially being called to testify.
It is still unclear exactly when the trial will come to an end.
Bulger’s team still has to present their case and their proposed witness list included scores of people.
Bulger’s lawyer J. W. Carney Jr., has previously said that Bulger will testify and that would take days if not weeks including the cross-examination by the government.
The 83-year-old Bulger was arrested in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2011 after 16 years on the run. Bulger fled after corrupt FBI agent John Connolly tipped him off just before his indictment for various crimes including racketeering, extortion and 19 murders.
Follow Morgan Rousseau on Twitter: @MetroMorgan
