Jury deliberation in the trial of James "Whitey" Bulger will stretch into a third day on Thursday, as a series of discussions over an undisclosed issue ignited confusion and speculation over the trial's outcome, and the jury failed to reach a decision Wednesday.
During discussions, Bulger sat in a gray long-sleeved t-shirt, writing notes on a legal pad as he has for much of the trial.
The court entered session several times only to go immediately into sidebar, where the attorneys talk privately with the judge under the cover of a white noise machine. The intermittent sidebars began around noon, alternating with recesses.
Judge Denise Casper answered two questions from the jury, the first early in the day about the statute of limitations on conspiracy to commit murder. Casper noted everything Bulger had been charged with was well within those limits. The other question came just before the end of the day, about whether the jury needed to decide unanimously about proving or disproving the racketeering charges against Bulger. Judge Casper answered, yes, they did.
Shortly thereafter, the jury informed Judge Casper they would not reach a decision. They were excused at about 4:30 p.m.
Follow live updates from the Bulger court here .
