Alternate Juror Falls Asleep During Opening Statements In Whitey Bulger Trial
BOSTON (CBS) -- Opening statements began Wednesday morning in the trial of reputed gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger.
The highly anticipated trial has been 16 years in the making but that wasn't enough to keep one juror's eyes open.
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As federal prosecutor Brian Kelly described Bulger as the head of the violent Winter Hill Gang, killing 19 people, extorting millions of dollars from victims and corrupting investigators, an alternate juror's head bobbed and he struggled to keep his eyes open.
It started with a yawn, as Kelly detailed the grisly murders Bulger is charged with.
It ended in a nap.
WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong was in the courtroom covering the trial.
He captured the sleepy moments on Twitter.
And like most things in today's world of social media, that sleepy juror had a Twitter handle before he even woke from his snooze.
@SleepJuror's profile says:
I'm the alternate juror who can't keep my eyes open. Watch me decide Whitey Bulger's fate! No need for a mistrial, I'm merely a fan...
Moakley Courthouse, Southie.
Sleepy Juror tweeted:
Though the sleepy alternate juror may have missed some of the opening statements, the juror did wake up as testimony began.
There is no word on if there will be any repercussions from falling asleep during trial, which is expected to last up to four months.
