Jurors in James “Whitey” Bulger’s trial have been deliberating all this week.
Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki/Metro
The jury deciding the fate of alleged mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger was told that they must try to come to an agreement on all of the charges facing the 83-year-old gangster.
Before they started deliberating on Thursday for a third day, Judge Denise Capser gave the jurors an additional answer to a question they asked on Wednesday.
Among many other charges, Bulger faces two racketeering counts. The second count consists of 33 acts, which include the 19 murders, extortions and other crimes. The jury only has to find that the government proved just two of those 33 acts to convict Bulger of the racketeering count. Those two acts must also have occurred within a 10-year period.
The jury asked Wednesday for Casper to clarify if finding the government proved or not proved acts had to be unanimous. Casper told them it did.
But on Thursday morning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Hafer told Casper prosecutors were concerned that jurors may find Bulger guilty of two of the acts and skip the remaining ones.
Casper drew up wording that satisfied both prosecutors and Bulger’s defense team and orally told the jurors what they should consider.
“Iremind you … that you have a duty to attempt to reach agreement on each of the counts and each of the racketeering acts if you can do so conscientiously,” she said.
They jury was still out as of noon Thursday. As of then, jurors had deliberated for 16 hours over three days.
When there is a verdict, Metro will alert you on Twitter and have live updates from the courthouse.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
