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| James 'Whitey' Bulger trial opens in Boston | James 'Whitey' Bulger trial opens in Boston |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A former top fugitive who is accused of being one of America's most notorious mobsters has gone on trial after nearly two decades on the run. | A former top fugitive who is accused of being one of America's most notorious mobsters has gone on trial after nearly two decades on the run. |
| James "Whitey" Bulger, 83, denies 19 counts of murder, running crime schemes and corrupting officials. | James "Whitey" Bulger, 83, denies 19 counts of murder, running crime schemes and corrupting officials. |
| Prosecutors told the court he brought "murder and mayhem" as leader of Boston's Winter Hill Gang in the 1980s. | Prosecutors told the court he brought "murder and mayhem" as leader of Boston's Winter Hill Gang in the 1980s. |
| He was an inspiration for the gangster played by Jack Nicholson in Oscar-winning 1996 film The Departed. | He was an inspiration for the gangster played by Jack Nicholson in Oscar-winning 1996 film The Departed. |
| The trial is expected to last for months and call more than 100 witnesses, including alleged victims, criminal partners and law enforcement officials. | |
| Women strangled | Women strangled |
| Bulger - who was arrested in 2011 in Santa Monica, California, where he had been living with his girlfriend - could face life in jail if convicted. | Bulger - who was arrested in 2011 in Santa Monica, California, where he had been living with his girlfriend - could face life in jail if convicted. |
| Federal prosecutors say the accused, a convicted bank robber, once terrorised South Boston, a formerly working-class, Irish-Catholic neighbourhood. | Federal prosecutors say the accused, a convicted bank robber, once terrorised South Boston, a formerly working-class, Irish-Catholic neighbourhood. |
| "It's a case about organised crime, public corruption and all sorts of illegal activities ranging from extortion to drug dealing to money laundering, to possession of machine guns to murder," Assistant US Attorney Brian Kelly told the court. | |
| "While he started out as just one member of the enterprise, eventually he took control. He became the leader. | "While he started out as just one member of the enterprise, eventually he took control. He became the leader. |
| "And he was no ordinary leader because he did the dirty work himself. He was a hands-on killer." | "And he was no ordinary leader because he did the dirty work himself. He was a hands-on killer." |
| Indicating the defendant, Mr Kelly told the court: "At the centre of all this murder and mayhem is one man." | Indicating the defendant, Mr Kelly told the court: "At the centre of all this murder and mayhem is one man." |
| The government is reportedly planning to ask one family member of each of the 19 alleged victims to testify during the trial. | The government is reportedly planning to ask one family member of each of the 19 alleged victims to testify during the trial. |
| Among the alleged victims were two 26-year-old women Bulger is accused of strangling. | Among the alleged victims were two 26-year-old women Bulger is accused of strangling. |
| Prosecutors are also expected to show the jury a 700-page file the government kept on Bulger's alleged activities. | Prosecutors are also expected to show the jury a 700-page file the government kept on Bulger's alleged activities. |
| The documents are said to show that the accused worked as an informant providing authorities with tips about a rival gang, the New England Mob. | |
| Bulger and his associates intimidated other criminals into working with them and paid off law enforcement officials who warned them if they were being investigated, the court heard. | |
| "It was part of a strategy they had, and it worked for them," said the prosecutor. | "It was part of a strategy they had, and it worked for them," said the prosecutor. |
| But defence lawyers are expected to attack the credibility of star witnesses who were former gang insiders. | |
| Bulger's legal team also deny that their client worked supplying information to the FBI. | Bulger's legal team also deny that their client worked supplying information to the FBI. |
| "James Bulger never ever - the evidence will show - was an informant," said lawyer JW Carney. | "James Bulger never ever - the evidence will show - was an informant," said lawyer JW Carney. |
| Mr Carney conceded that Bulger had been involved in illegal gambling and drugs. | Mr Carney conceded that Bulger had been involved in illegal gambling and drugs. |
| But the defence is expected to emphasise their client's softer side as a community hardman who would serve up holiday meals to neighbours. | But the defence is expected to emphasise their client's softer side as a community hardman who would serve up holiday meals to neighbours. |
| Bulger fled Boston in 1994 after an FBI handler, John Connolly, warned him authorities were about to indict him. Connolly was later jailed for tipping off the defendant. | Bulger fled Boston in 1994 after an FBI handler, John Connolly, warned him authorities were about to indict him. Connolly was later jailed for tipping off the defendant. |