(NECN: Justin Michaels, Boston) - James ‘Whitey’ Bulger arrived at the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston to face his sentencing Thursday morning.
But on Wednesday, he sat emotionless during day one of his sentencing, not even looking at the dozen victims family members who came to say one final word to the man who, in some cases, has given them decades of pain.
"He did not want to validate the trial by participating directly or indirectly through us in the sentencing process," said defense attorney J.W. Carney.
When Judge Denise Casper asked Bulger if he had anything to say, he simply stood and replied "no."
Casper did allow the families of all 19 victims, proven or not proven to speak in court.
Several relatives did plead with Bulger to look at them while they spoke about their murdered loved one, but Bulger didn't so much as even turn his head.
But emotionless or not, Bulger's attorney says he feels his client heard every word.
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"I sat right next to him, I saw how he reacted. I think that was in response to the power of their words. You don't think James Bulger was immune to that emotion. He was affected by it."
The final phase of sentencing begins at 10 o'clock Thursday morning; Judge Casper will hand down the penalty for Bulger.
