Boston bomber apologises
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, prime accused in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings finally broke his silence and apologised for his actions. His 4 minute speech came after the judge formally confirmed Tsarnaev's death sentence. The judge quoted Shakespeare saying that "The evil that men do lives after them...The good is oft interred with their bones. So it will be for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev."
3 people were killed and over 200 were injured after 2 bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on 15 April 2013. FBI termed it as a potential terrorist attack. Police got hold of suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev a day after a lockdown on Boston's streets and violent clashes claimed the life of a police officer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was a student at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and was of Chechen origin.
Tsarnaev's lawyers' requested the federal judge to order prosecutors to give more time for preparation of arguments against the death penalty was rejected. He had pleaded not guilty to all the 17 charges against him. According to U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, Tsarnaev's lawyers had six months since the bombings to prepare their case against the death penalty, which was more than enough.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's third request to move his trial outside Massachusetts was rejected by the federal judge. The Judge was of the view that the jury selection had proved that people were capable of being fair and impartial. Tsarnaev's case was to be decided by a panel of 12 jurors and six alternatives.
The jury had to take a call on whether to execute him or show mercy His lawyer had argued that his elder brother was the mastermind behind the bombings 17 of the 30 counts pitted against him were punishable by death The 12-member jury had to be unanimous in their decision for Tsarnaev to receive a death sentence or lifetime in jail.
Tsarnaev was sentenced to death by a US jury for his role in carrying out the 2013 attack that left three people dead and 264 others wounded The jury awarded him death by lethal injection He was found guilty of placing 2 homemade pressure-cooker bombs and fatally shooting a policeman
3 of the Boston Marathon bomber Tsarnaev's college friends were sentenced to prison for misleading the investigation by throwing the bomber's backpack in a dumpster after the 2013 attack. Azamat Tazhayakov, from Kazakhstan was sentenced to 3.5 years, while Robel Phillipos of Massachusetts was handed out a sentence of 3 years. Dias Kadyrbayev was sentenced to 6 years for the obstruction of justice.
