Memorable quotes from the James "Whitey" Bulger trial
The following is a collection of memorable quotations from the trial of James "Whitey" Bulger, the notorious Boston crime boss who was found guilty of gangland crimes, including murder.
J. W. Carney Jr., the defense lawyer for Mr. Bulger:
“James Bulger is of Irish descent. And the worst thing an Irish person could consider doing is becoming an informant. That was the first and foremost reason why James Bulger was never an informant against people.”
John "The Executioner" Martorano, former Bulger associate who testified against him:
“Family and friends come first. My father always taught me that. The priests and the nuns I grew up with taught me that. They taught me that Judas — Judas was the worst person in the world.”
Mr. Martorano, speaking of Mr. Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, another close associate:
“They were my partners in crime. They were my best friends. They were my children’s godfathers. After I heard that they were informants, it sort of broke my heart. They broke all trust that we had, all loyalties. I was just beside myself with it.”
Frank Capizzi, a former gambler caught up in Bulger-related gang wars:
Q: “Did something unusual happen when you were in the car with Bud Plummer?”
A: “Unusual? A firing squad hit us. For two and a half minutes, about a hundred slugs hit the automobile, and it imploded. … Unbelievably, although I had been hit in the head, and could feel warm blood running down my neck, and excruciating pain in my back, I said, ‘Let’s get the [expletive] out of this car, Bud, come on.’ And I put my hand up, and my hand went into his neck where his head should have been.”
Kevin Weeks, a longtime Bulger associate, referring to Mr. Bulger and Mr. Flemmi:
“We killed people that were rats, and I had the two biggest rats right next to me.”
“I’ve been lying my whole life. I’m a criminal."
Mr. Flemmi, explaining that life in prison was not exactly “Club Med”:
“I would have liked the conditions to be more humane. I mean, I’m a human being. … If I fed some of that food to my dog, he’d bite me. The hot dogs were burnt. The hamburgers were burnt.”
Mr. Flemmi, referring to Mr. Bulger:
“You want to talk about pedophilia, right over there at that table.”
Hank Brennan, Mr. Bulger’s defense lawyer, cross-examining Mr. Flemmi:
“So when you use the term ‘quid pro quo,’ that’s just Latin for rat, isn’t it?”
Robert Fitzpatrick, former F.B.I. agent:
Q: Have any of your medications affected your memory?
A: “Not that I recall.”
Mr. Bulger to Judge Denise Casper:
“I feel that I’ve been choked off from having an opportunity to give an adequate defense and explain about my conversation and agreement with [former federal prosecutor] Jeremiah O’Sullivan. For my protection of his life, in return, he promised to give me immunity. … And my thing is, as far as I’m concerned, I didn’t get a fair trial, and this is a sham. And do what yous want with me.”
Fred Wyshak, assistant United States attorney:
“The concept that the government buys testimony? Well, that is just a slanderous and lowlife remark by Mr. Carney. That is not how the government works.”
J. W. Carney Jr., the defense lawyer for Mr. Bulger:
“James Bulger is of Irish descent. And the worst thing an Irish person could consider doing is becoming an informant. That was the first and foremost reason why James Bulger was never an informant against people.”
John "The Executioner" Martorano, former Bulger associate who testified against him:
“Family and friends come first. My father always taught me that. The priests and the nuns I grew up with taught me that. They taught me that Judas — Judas was the worst person in the world.”
Mr. Martorano, speaking of Mr. Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, another close associate:
“They were my partners in crime. They were my best friends. They were my children’s godfathers. After I heard that they were informants, it sort of broke my heart. They broke all trust that we had, all loyalties. I was just beside myself with it.”
Frank Capizzi, a former gambler caught up in Bulger-related gang wars:
Q: “Did something unusual happen when you were in the car with Bud Plummer?”
A: “Unusual? A firing squad hit us. For two and a half minutes, about a hundred slugs hit the automobile, and it imploded. … Unbelievably, although I had been hit in the head, and could feel warm blood running down my neck, and excruciating pain in my back, I said, ‘Let’s get the [expletive] out of this car, Bud, come on.’ And I put my hand up, and my hand went into his neck where his head should have been.”
Kevin Weeks, a longtime Bulger associate, referring to Mr. Bulger and Mr. Flemmi:
“We killed people that were rats, and I had the two biggest rats right next to me.”
“I’ve been lying my whole life. I’m a criminal."
Mr. Flemmi, explaining that life in prison was not exactly “Club Med”:
“I would have liked the conditions to be more humane. I mean, I’m a human being. … If I fed some of that food to my dog, he’d bite me. The hot dogs were burnt. The hamburgers were burnt.”
Mr. Flemmi, referring to Mr. Bulger:
“You want to talk about pedophilia, right over there at that table.”
Hank Brennan, Mr. Bulger’s defense lawyer, cross-examining Mr. Flemmi:
“So when you use the term ‘quid pro quo,’ that’s just Latin for rat, isn’t it?”
Robert Fitzpatrick, former F.B.I. agent:
Q: Have any of your medications affected your memory?
A: “Not that I recall.”
Mr. Bulger to Judge Denise Casper:
“I feel that I’ve been choked off from having an opportunity to give an adequate defense and explain about my conversation and agreement with [former federal prosecutor] Jeremiah O’Sullivan. For my protection of his life, in return, he promised to give me immunity. … And my thing is, as far as I’m concerned, I didn’t get a fair trial, and this is a sham. And do what yous want with me.”
Fred Wyshak, assistant United States attorney:
“The concept that the government buys testimony? Well, that is just a slanderous and lowlife remark by Mr. Carney. That is not how the government works.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/10/us/memorable-quotes-from-the-trial-of-james-whitey-bulger.html
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