WGBH's Adam Reilly is reporting from the trial of James "Whitey" Bulger. His notes from the courtroom follow:
We're mixing up our approach to our James "Whitey" Bulger trial coverage today. On some days, we'll identify three key takeaways from the trial proceedings, to cut through the occasionally confusing minutiae from court and highlight key developments or insights.
This isn't the only approach we'll use. When a hugely anticipated witness testifies, such as Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, we'll take a more narrative approach. Today, though, a number of less dramatic witnesses took the stand. And so, without further ado, here are Wednesday's highlights in the Bulger trial:
1. Bulger's defense may not be that limited after all. The Bulger defense team's opening arguments on Wednesday strongly suggested that they're conceding the vast majority of the government's case. It seemed they would only contest a few key claims, including Bulger's alleged status as an informant and allegations that he participated in the murder of two women (Debra Davis and Deborah Hussey) and two men killed in death-penalty states (John Callahan and Roger Wheeler).
But, today, Bulger's attorney J.W. Carney hammered away at the prosecution's suggestion that Bulger was involved in the murder of John McIntyre, who gave the feds info about a vast local drug- and gun-running operation. Cross-examining Donald DeFago, a former U.S. Customs agent who helped gather intelligence from McIntyre, Carney noted that--during an expansive interview in which an eager McIntyre mentioned several names--Bulger's name wasn't mentioned once. Carney also got DeFago to acknowledge receiving tips that crime boss Joe Murray of Charlestown might have been behind McIntyre's death, which would likely mean that Bulger wasn't. Add John McIntyre's murder to the list of the killings Bulger wants to show he didn't commit.
2. Whitey Bulger still scares people. The day's first witness was Michael Solimando, a contractor who hung around Bulger's circle but wasn't exactly part of it. Yesterday, Solimando had described a terrifying 1982 shakedown in which Bulger shoved a machine gun between his legs and demanded $400,000. (The incident followed the murder of Solimando's friend, John Callahan, who was killed in Florida by hitman John Martorano) Today, Bulger fixed Solimando with a hard stare as he was crossed by defense attorney Hank Brennan--and as Solimando described trying to obtain the funds necessary to "satisfy Mr. Bulger," he stuttered repeatedly, apparently stricken by nerves. It's hard to blame him.
3. Back in the '80s, some crazy stuff went down around Boston Harbor. During DeFago's testimony, he described using intelligence from McIntyre to bust a drug shipment orchestrated by Murray and South Boston former IRA operative Pat Nee. Boarding a Norwegian ship called the "Ramsland", DeFago recalled, he and other officials found tons of gravel--but underneath, concealed by hatches that had been cemented shut, there where a whopping thirty-six tons of marijuana. DeFago also discussed the attempt, in which Bulger was allegedly instrumental to smuggle 70 tons (!) of weapons and ammo to the Irish Republican Army via the Gloucester-based ship "Valhalla". That scheme failed--but it shows how incredibly confident and brazen Boston's Irish gangsters were 30 years ago.
