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Defense Rests In Connolly Trial

Former FBI Agent Charged With Racketeering

POSTED: 3:47 pm EDT May 21, 2002
UPDATED: 5:36 pm EDT May 21, 2002

The defense rested its case Tuesday in the trial of former Boston FBI Agent John Connolly who is accused of leaking information to the mob.

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NewsCenter 5's David Boeri said that Connolly never took the stand in his own defense. He has long promised that he'd get his story out.

"I would ask, that all fair-minded people refrain from forming a judgment in this case until you have heard my facts and my evidence brought before a judge and a jury," Connolly said two years ago.

Connolly never told his story to the jury.

"My family and I are very pleased that this trial is over. I place my trust in the jury now," Connolly said as he left the courthouse Tuesday.

He said that his lawyers advised him not to take the stand.

Damaged by government witnesses, documents and records of telephone calls, Connolly decided it would be more damaging to take the stand and expose himself to cross-examination, Boeri said.

Earlier Tuesday, one of Connolly's friends testified for the defense. But under cross-examination, he acknowledged that Connolly, who had retired from the FBI, had repeatedly called him in 1994 to find out if James Bulger was going to be indicted.

Connolly allegedly passed the tip on to Bulger, enabling Bulger to flee.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday.


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