BOSTON — A judge has rejected a request from lawyers for James “Whitey” Bulger to suspend his racketeering trial for two days so they can have more time to prepare for prosecution witnesses.

The defense sought the delay Thursday to prepare for upcoming forensic experts. Attorney J.W. Carney Jr. argued there is a large volume of documents to review and said the 83-year-old Bulger is exhausted.

Prosecutor Zack Hafer objected to the delay, saying Bulger “had 16 years to relax in California” while he was a fugitive.

Bulger is charged with having a role in 19 killings during the 1970s and ’80s while he allegedly led the Winter Hill Gang and served as an FBI informant. He has pleaded not guilty.

Bulger fled ahead of a 1995 indictment and wasn’t captured until 2011.


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