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Whitey Bulger 'involved in several killings' | Whitey Bulger 'involved in several killings' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The once loyal henchman of alleged mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger has told a Boston court the accused was involved in a series of killings in the 1970s. | The once loyal henchman of alleged mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger has told a Boston court the accused was involved in a series of killings in the 1970s. |
In a long-awaited trial, convicted hit man Stephen "the Rifleman" Flemmi said Bulger shot a man at a phone booth. | In a long-awaited trial, convicted hit man Stephen "the Rifleman" Flemmi said Bulger shot a man at a phone booth. |
The 83-year-old denies 19 counts of murder and other charges. | The 83-year-old denies 19 counts of murder and other charges. |
The case has revived memories of a time when mobsters in Boston's Irish community gunned down victims and disposed of the bodies, with impunity. | The case has revived memories of a time when mobsters in Boston's Irish community gunned down victims and disposed of the bodies, with impunity. |
During his second day on the stand, Flemmi told the court on Friday about an "out of control" gang war in Boston in the 1960s that claimed about 60 lives. | |
Flemmi said the chaos set the stage for the rise of Bulger's Winter Hill gang the following decade. | Flemmi said the chaos set the stage for the rise of Bulger's Winter Hill gang the following decade. |
He described how he and Bulger shot a bar owner, Edward Connors, at a bus stop in 1975 because they believed he was telling people about the gang's activities. | He described how he and Bulger shot a bar owner, Edward Connors, at a bus stop in 1975 because they believed he was telling people about the gang's activities. |
Flemmi said Bulger emptied the bullets in a double-barreled shotgun and a handgun during that attack. | Flemmi said Bulger emptied the bullets in a double-barreled shotgun and a handgun during that attack. |
He also told the court about how they buried bodies at a gun club on the outskirts of Boston. | He also told the court about how they buried bodies at a gun club on the outskirts of Boston. |
The witness said he had worked closely with Bulger for about two decades, until the accused fled Boston. | |
Flemmi, who remained in Boston, was arrested. He pleaded guilty to 10 killings and is serving a life sentence in prison. | Flemmi, who remained in Boston, was arrested. He pleaded guilty to 10 killings and is serving a life sentence in prison. |
The court has heard that Bulger - who also faces a life term if convicted - was a violent and cold-blooded criminal. | The court has heard that Bulger - who also faces a life term if convicted - was a violent and cold-blooded criminal. |
He denies all the charges, though his lawyer has conceded his client was a drug dealer, extortionist and loan shark. | He denies all the charges, though his lawyer has conceded his client was a drug dealer, extortionist and loan shark. |
Prosecutors say Bulger regularly met with a corrupt FBI official who turned a blind eye to the Winter Hill gang's activities in return for information on the Italian Mafia. | Prosecutors say Bulger regularly met with a corrupt FBI official who turned a blind eye to the Winter Hill gang's activities in return for information on the Italian Mafia. |
However, Bulger denies being an informant or "rat", insisting through his lawyer that he paid for information but offered none of his own. | |
On Wednesday, a former drug dealer testified that Bulger had forced him to play Russian roulette in 1983 as a way to make him hand over $1m (£660,000). | On Wednesday, a former drug dealer testified that Bulger had forced him to play Russian roulette in 1983 as a way to make him hand over $1m (£660,000). |
Bulger, who spent 16 years on the run before his 2011 capture in Santa Monica, California, was one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. | Bulger, who spent 16 years on the run before his 2011 capture in Santa Monica, California, was one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. |
He was an inspiration for the gangster played by Jack Nicholson in Oscar-winning 2006 film The Departed. | He was an inspiration for the gangster played by Jack Nicholson in Oscar-winning 2006 film The Departed. |