Lawyers for gangster James “Whitey” Bulger on Wednesday asked Judge Denise Casper to allow a former Winter Hill Gang member to testify on Bulger’s behalf.

But the government strongly opposes the motion to put Pat Nee on the witness stand. And many are questioning why.

It is a question that is gnawing at families of alleged victims of Bulger: Why has South Boston gangster Patrick Nee escaped prosecution for his alleged role in several homicides? Bulger associate Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi has testified that Nee was involved in at least 10 murders in the 1970s and 80s, which Flemmi also attributed to Bulger, yet federal law enforcement has failed to act against him. In fact, it is Nee who will be acting.

He is slated to star in a new reality TV series on the Discovery Channel about rival bookmakers, called "Saint Hoods," that begins airing August 2. That announcement was made as witnesses in the Bulger trial were providing accounts about how Nee helped move bodies of Debra Davis and Kevin Weeks; how he lured a man named John McIntyre to a house in South Boston home where Bulger was waiting; about how he helped bury bodies and why some believe he may have shot an innocent man.

"Pat Nee is a stone-cold killer," said Tommy Donahue, the son of Michael Donahue, who was allegedly killed by Bulger in the 1980s. "He has ben his whole life. He was involved in my father’s murder, and I’ll tell you one thing: I wont let it lie."

In his testimony, Kevin Weeks said that Nee may have been the second shooter sitting alongside Bulger that day.

"These guys all knew that information in 2003; we just found that out a couple days ago," Donohue said. "You know what I mean? Don't you think somebody should've came to us? No charges were brought upon him. He's involved in countless violent crimes."

Bulger’s defense team which will begin calling witnesses this week has listed Nee as number 30 to be to called on to testify. But the prosecution has accused the defense of grandstanding, saying that Nee can only be compelled to testify for Bulger’s defense if his federal immunity is lifted; an unlikely possibility.

Prosecutor Brian Kelley Wednesday asked Casper to bar Nee from the witness stand. She took the motion under advisement.

Meanwhile, Tommy Donahue has asked local officials to do what federal officials would not do, and cannot do now, because the statute of limitations has run out on bringing federal charges.

But local and state authorities can still act.

"I’ve already called Dan Conley, the district attorney," Donohue said. "Even though he's running for mayor, I want paperwork started now, and I said I want some paperwork done, even for the next guy who comes in for the district attorney. I want that already laid out for him. Because this courthouse ain't going to charge him."

Conley’s office had no comment, for now.