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Jury deliberating Whitey Bulger trial asks judge first question

In this courtroom sketch, prosecutor Fred Wyshak, standing, speaks during closing arguments in the trial of James
In this courtroom sketch, prosecutor Fred Wyshak, standing, speaks during closing arguments in the trial of JamesJane Flavell Collins / AP

Jurors deliberating in the federal murder and extortion trial of reputed Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger on Wednesday asked their first question of the judge.

The jury, now on its second day of deliberations, is considering 32 criminal counts for the man who was one of the country's most wanted fugitives until he was captured two years ago.

The 12 jurors asked U.S. District Judge Denise Casper in a note whether the statute of limitations applied to any of the charges brought against the former leader of the notorious Winter Hill gang, Reuters reported.

Prosecution and defense attorneys agreed in discussions before the judge that the statute of limitations would not apply to racketeering charges such as those Bulger is facing, according to Reuters.

"The issue of statute of limitation should not concern you," Casper told the jury, which began deliberating on Tuesday after 36 days of testimony.

Bulger, 83, is accused of ordering or taking part in 19 killings as the leader of the Winter Hill Gang in the 1970s and 1980s. He is charged with racketeering, extortion, money laundering and other crimes.

The jury is made up of eight men and four women.

Bulger could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of the murders but, given his age, any guilty verdict would be an effective life sentence.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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