With Whitey Bulger’s return to the area, news outlets have seized on the opportunity to cover his case extensively, referring to him as the alleged head of Boston’s Irish Mob. Bulger is now represented by counsel, funded by taxpayers since he lacks personal financial resources—no money sitting in savings accounts, credit unions, or investment firms like Fidelity. The government has seized $820,000 of his assets, a sum that will join the federal government’s massive expenditures as the nation carries approximately $13 trillion in debt. His legal representation will now mount a defense, as is his constitutional right. The prosecution must demonstrate to a jury, with evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, that Whitey bears direct responsibility for each of the 19 homicides with which he has been charged. Each case must be established separately to the jury’s satisfaction before conviction can occur. A single trial will address all 19 charges rather than requiring 19 separate proceedings. Should the government successfully prove even one charge, Whitey’s case is effectively concluded. Yet this is contemporary America, where reality and unreality intertwine and courtroom procedures often seem fundamentally altered. Some observers question whether Whitey can receive a fair trial in Boston. Others contend that the age of the evidence and the scarcity of living direct witnesses make proving even a single murder case potentially insurmountable.
Whitey Bulger
