'Whitey' Bulger Balks at Taking Stand, 'Do What Yous Want With Me'
BOSTON Aug. 2, 2013— -- James "Whitey" Bulger brought his murder trial to a flamboyant end today, refusing to take the stand and telling the court to "do want yous want with me."
He decision prompted an outburst from Patricia Donahue, whose husband Michael was an innocent victim shot dead by Bulger in 1982.
"You're a coward!" Donahue yelled.
Bulger, 83, told the court he will not take the stand to testify in his defense, but when he was asked by federal Judge Denise Casper whether he made that decision voluntarily, he began a short rant.
"I'm making the choice involuntarily. I feel like I have been choked off from giving an adequate defense,'' Bulger said while the jury was not present. "That's the way it is. As far as I'm concerned I did not get a fair trial. This is a sham."
"Do what yous [cq] want with me,'' Bulger said, his face flushed red against his black long-sleeved T-shirt.
"Whitey" Bulger's Violent Life in Photos
Earlier in the day Bulger had offered to give the $822,000 in cash found hidden in the Santa Monica hideout where he was captured after 16 years as a fugitive to the Donahue family and another murdered man's family.
Bulger attempted to tell the court that he had immunity in the case from a long line of corrupt federal law enforcement officials, but was cut off from the judge.
The defense rested its case and closing arguments are slated to take place on Monday.
Bulger, 83, is on trial for a string of crimes including 19 murders while his Winter Hill Gang ruled the Boston underworld with the help of corrupt FBI agents.
It was those corrupt FBI officials who tipped Bulger when one of his underlings, Brian "Balloonhead" Halloran, decided to cooperate with law enforcement. That signed Halloran's death warrant, disgraced FBI supervisor John Morris told the court.
Witnesses testified that Bulger, Kevin Weeks and a third man waited as Halloran finished up a meal at a South Boston eatery. Halloran left with coworker Michael Donahue, an innocent father of three who offered Halloran a ride home on May 11, 1982. Both men died in a hail of gunfire.
Patricia Donahue, has been a fixture at the Bulger trial since it began on June 6 with her three sons, Michael, Tommy and Sean. Michael, the oldest, was 13 when his father was murdered.
The Donahues were hoping Bulger would take the stand and tell them who the other gunman was in the back seat when Donahue and Halloran were killed.
Bulger's criminal cohort and fellow FBI informant Stephen Flemmi testified that the third gunman was Pat Nee, a Winter Hill Gang member. Nee was subpoenaed to testify but showed up in court Thursday with his attorney and plead the fifth.
The Donahue family and the Halloran family both sued the federal government because of the FBI's role in the murders. The Department of Justice fought the lawsuit and an appellate court ruled that the statute of limitations for filing the civil suit had expired.
Carney told the court Bulger indicated he wanted the money to go directly to the families of Donahue and Halloran.
"To listen to all of the money these witnesses, these rats, are getting, and know that the government fought paying my family, is making me sick every day,'' Tommy Donahue told ABC News after court Thursday.
It is unclear if the court will allow Bulger's cash stash be distributed to the families.
After the proceeding, Bulger attorney JW Carney was asked about his client's state of mind.
"Right now I'd say Jim Bulger is at peace with his decision," Carney said. "I spoke with him afterwards. He's very calm. I'm pleased that he made the decision that he did."
