Whitey Bulger Update: Tensions rise in reputed mob boss' racketeering trial, defense begs for break

(CBS/AP) BOSTON -  This week in James "Whitey" Bulger's racketeering trial, chaos erupted when the reputed mob boss' protégé, Kevin Weeks, took the stand and called Bulger and his longtime cohort, Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, "the two biggest rats."

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Weeks, Bulger's once-loyal criminal apprentice, took the stand on Monday and testified that he saw Bulger extort multiple businessmen and drug dealers for a cut of their profits. He also testified that he was present during several murders that Bulger is accused of committing.

Bulger stared straight ahead during much of Weeks' testimony Monday and only glanced at him occasionally. However, tension exploded the following day when the conversation shifted, once again, to allegations of Bulger being an FBI informant.

Weeks, who had been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting Bulger in five murders, was asked by attorney J.W. Carney Jr. about whether he was bothered by his participation in the killings.

In response, Weekly snapped, "[It bothers me] because we killed five people that were rats, and I had the two biggest rats right next to me."

"You suck," Bulger responded from his seat at the defense table.

"F--- you, OK!" Weeks replied.

"F--- you, too," Bulger said.

"What do you want to do?" Weeks challenged Bulger.

Judge Denise Casper moved to restore order and reminded Bulger to let his attorneys speak for him.

Weeks' "rat" comment was in reference to the prosecution's claim that Bulger and Flemmi were FBI informants on the rival New England Mafia while they were both committing a litany of crimes.

Weeks, 57, said he only decided to cooperate with prosecutors and testify in the trial after learning that Bulger and Flemmi were informants.

"We killed people for being informants," Weeks said in court.

Bulger and his defense attorneys vehemently deny that he was ever an informant, however they do acknowledge that Bulger paid FBI agents, state police and local police for information on investigations so he could stay one step ahead of any indictment.

Bulger fled Boston in 1994 ahead of an indictment and was one of the nation's most wanted fugitives until he was captured in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2011.

Also this week, after jurors were shown pictures of some of Bulger's alleged victims' remains, the reputed mob boss' lawyers asked Judge Casper to suspend the trial for two days so they could have more time to prepare for the prosecution's forensic experts. His lawyers also argued that Bulger was exhausted from the trial and was in need of a break.

"The victims in this case have been waiting long enough for justice," Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Hafer argued in response. He also said Bulger "had 16 years to relax in California," a reference to his time as a fugitive.

The request was denied.

The 83-year-old Bulger is accused of playing a role in 19 killings while allegedly leading the Winter Hill Gang. He has pleaded not guilty.

Complete coverage of the Whitey Bulger case on Crimesider