After a summer-long trial, five days of deliberations, 31 guilty charges, and 12 heartwrenching testimonials James “Whitey” Bulger has been sentenced to life in prison, plus 5 years, plus another life sentence . Bulger, 84, appeared at the surprisingly empty John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in his native South Boston where Judge Denise Casper levied the sentence against him.

Yesterday Bulger entered the court donning his neon orange jumpsuit, and not once lifted his head to meet the eyes of the 12 relatives of victims he had a hand in murdering.  When prompted to address the court, he stood and curtly responded with “no.”

Notably the court was brimming with spectators, likely to  attending to hear the relatives speak but also to hear if Bulger would contribute any commentary. The entire trial was theatrical with violent outbursts while courtroom proceedings were underway full of vulgarity and profanity.

Some of those who spoke on behalf of their since-deceased family members were all permitted to talk, despite the fact that some of their relatives were not proven to have been killed by Bulger. Judge Casper, though, made it clear that their respective testimony would have no bearing in the sentencing.

Judge Casper reiterated Thursday, prior to handing Bulger his sentence, the severity of his crimes as well the fact that it took absolutely no skill or acumen to extort innocents, and that many of the families deeply affected by his disgusting criminal activity were still reeling from their losses.

With no sense of remorse, Bulger notably referred to the trial as a sham though Judge Casper told him plainly that he received the fairest trial possible, to which he responded by staring her straight in the eye, a courtesy he refused to extend to those still in anguish due to his acts.

Judge Casper also ordered $19.5 million in restitution – that’s the approximately $800,000 plus an estimate of what the victims would have earned since their untimely deaths – be split amongst the victims’ relatives. Still, we know for sure that only the $800K is in federal possession at this point.

Even if he received a lighter sentence than this, it’s likely Bulger would have died in prison.

 

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