BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com/AP) – A retired medical examiner provided in-depth detail about how each of the alleged victims of James "Whitey" Bulger died at his racketeering trial Monday.
Dr. Richard Evans, the former chief medical examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, testified that nearly all of Bulger's alleged victims died from gunshot wounds to the head or chest.
Evans' most brutal descriptions involved the deaths of William O'Brien and Brian Halloran, with Evans telling the jury that the two suffered around 20 gunshot wounds apiece. Evans testified that all of Halloran's wounds were "through-and-though" and that he died from blood loss.
Next on the stand was Patricia Lytle Carlson, the former girlfriend of Bulger hitman John Martorano, and mother of his child. Carlson said she was nearly 16 when she began dating the 35-year-old Martorano.
Evans also testified about the deaths of Debra Davis and Deborah Hussey. He said the two women had died from some form of "homicidal violence" but couldn't be sure they were strangled as other witnesses had previously testified.
When she was 18, Carlson said she went to Florida with Martorano, knowing that he was wanted in Massachusetts. She testified that said she thought he was running from gambling issues from his time as a bookie and had no idea he was a hitman. Carlson testified that she had a child with Martorano, naming him after Bulger and Steve "The Rifleman" Flemmi.
During her testimony, Carlson said she picked up a number of envelopes containing money, once meeting Flemmi for an exchange as she got off a flight from Florida. Under cross-examination, Carlson testified that she previously lied during grand jury testimony to protect Martorano.
The prosecution then called former FBI agent Gerald Montanari. The brunt of his testimony focused on the FBI's handling of informant Brian Halloran.
Montanari said the FBI had set Halloran up with a house on Cape Cod after two hits had been taken on his life. Later, agents began to doubt Halloran's commitment to giving the bureau information and told him they were cutting him off in an effort to get him to get serious and come back on board. Halloran was gunned down shortly after.
Montanari also said the FBI began to suspect Bulger and Flemmi in the death of World Jai Lai owner Richard Wheeler. According to Montanari, agents John Connolly and John Morris were given that information.
Later this week, Steve Flemmi is expected to take the stand for the prosecution. He and Bulger have not seen each other since Bulger fled Boston in 1994.
Flemmi pleaded guilty to 10 murders and is serving a life sentence. He is expected to testify about Bulger's alleged involvement in numerous killings.
Bulger is accused of participating in 19 killings during the 1970s and '80s while he allegedly led the Winter Hill Gang. The 83-year-old Bulger has pleaded not guilty.
Flemmi is expected to testify mid-week.