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Bulger jury duty mix of tension, boredom, fear

BOSTON (AP) - They began as 18 strangers seated in a jury box, stunned they'd been chosen to decide a case the federal government waited nearly two decades to try while the suspect was on the lam. Two months later, some were shaking as they sat and heard their verdict read convicting Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger in 11 slayings.

Three jury members said in interviews with The Associated Press that the weeks between start to finish were a mix of tension, boredom and fear.

Trial testimony moved through years of vicious slayings and casual brutality. Fear among some gun-owning jurors prompted them to make sure their weapons were loaded before bed.

The jurors said that in the end, the panel made the only decision the evidence allowed.