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Judge Agrees To Give Documents To Bulger Defense

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has agreed to turn over some sealed documents gathered during hearings in the 1990s to reputed gangster James "Whitey" Bulger's lawyers to use as they defend him against charges accusing him of playing a role in 19 murders.

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf said Thursday that certain information may be removed from the documents, including the names of confidential informants. Wolf presided over hearings in the '90s when Bulger's corrupt relationship with the FBI was revealed. The documents would be given only to Bulger's defense team.

Bulger, the former leader of the Winter Hill Gang, was also an FBI informant on the New England Mob, his gang's main rivals.

Bulger's lawyers say they plan to argue that a former federal prosecutor gave him immunity for his crimes while he was an FBI informant.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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