Judge To Hear Arguments On Whitey Bulger's Immunity Claims

BOSTON (AP) — A judge will hear arguments on accused gangster James "Whitey" Bulger's claim that he was given immunity for his crimes while he was an FBI informant.

A hearing is set for Wednesday in federal court.

The judge will hear arguments on whether the defense can present Bulger's immunity claim to a jury at his upcoming trial.

Prosecutors have called Bulger's claim "absurd" and asked the judge to decide the issue before trial.

Bulger, the former leader of the Winter Hill Gang, claims a federal prosecutor gave him immunity while he was working as an FBI informant in the 1970s and 1980s. The prosecutor, now deceased, denied any immunity deal.

Bulger is scheduled to go on trial in June in a racketeering indictment that accuses him of playing a role in 19 murders.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.