Bulger's lawyer says he needs more time

BOSTON (WHDH) -- James “Whitey” Bulger’s defense lawyers said they will ask for more time to prepare for the former mob boss’ trial.

Bulger’s lawyers said they have so many documents to examine they won’t get to read them all until May. The trial is set to begin in March.

Family members of victims are tired of the delays. They agree with prosecutors that Bulger’s defense team is stonewalling.

“He’s not working on looking through these documents and trying to fight the case. He’s working on trying to stall it. He’s using every excuse he can to do that,” said Steven Davis, the brother of an alleged Bulger victim.

In a contentious hearing on Monday, a prosecutor claimed the defense is creating a “roadmap for delay.” But J.W. Carney shot back that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is guilty of a “shameful shenanigan designed to be wasting our time.”

The families wonder if Bulger, 83, will live to stand trial.

“I’d be bummed. It’d be absolutely bummed. I want to know exactly what he knows,” said Tom Donahue, the son of an alleged victim. “I want to know about all these dirty FBI agents.”

Bulger’s lawyers will argue the feds granted him from prosecution. Carney hasn’t divulged his theory, but the first name of a federal official to surface in court documents is Jeremiah O’Sullivan. Before O’Sullivan died he headed up the New England Organized Crime Strike Force for the Justice Department.

Carney has sought documents about O’Sullivan and whether he made promises to Bulger in return for information on the Italian mafia.

Carney Jr. has said Bulger will testify about his claim he was given immunity to commit crimes while he was an informant.

In a letter dated last Friday, prosecutors claimed O’Sullivan testified under oath before congress that he never extended immunity to either Whitey or his partner, Stephen Flemmi.

Bulger, the former leader of the Winter Hill Gang, is accused of participating in 19 murders. He fled Boston in 1994 and remained one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives until his capture in Santa Monica, Calif., last year.