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Boston bombing trial: Tsarnaev lawyer admits his guilt Boston bombing trial: Tsarnaev lawyer admits his guilt
(about 2 hours later)
The trial of the man accused of bombing the Boston Marathon two years ago has begun, with his defence lawyer telling the jury he committed the crime.The trial of the man accused of bombing the Boston Marathon two years ago has begun, with his defence lawyer telling the jury he committed the crime.
"It was him," the lawyer said as she prepared to defend Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's actions by saying he had been influenced by his older brother."It was him," the lawyer said as she prepared to defend Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's actions by saying he had been influenced by his older brother.
Mr Tsarnaev, 21, could face the death penalty and is charged with more than 30 counts relating to the bombings.Mr Tsarnaev, 21, could face the death penalty and is charged with more than 30 counts relating to the bombings.
It was the deadliest terror attack on US soil since 9/11.It was the deadliest terror attack on US soil since 9/11.
Speaking before the defence, a federal prosecutor said in opening statements on Wednesday that Tsarnaev had "murder in his heart" when he placed the bomb. Three people, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed after two pressure cooker bombs packed with nails, ball bearings and other shrapnel detonated in April 2013. More than 260 people were injured, with many losing limbs.
In 2013, Mr Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to all charges related to the attack. In 2013, Mr Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to all charges, including one related to the killing of a police officer in the days after the bombing.
The left side of the court was filled with about two dozen of the attack's victims as the trial began. Early in the day, Mr Tsarnaev's lawyer, Judy Clarke, stunned the court when she began her opening remarks by saying: "It was him."
Three people, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed after two pressure cooker bombs packed with nails, ball bearings and other shrapnel detonated in April 2013. The admission marks the beginning of the defence team's strategy, which is to place blame for the bombings on the defendant's older brother Tamerlan, who was killed by police.
More than 260 people were injured, with many losing limbs. "The evidence will not establish and we will not argue that Tamerlan put a gun to Dzhokhar's head or that he forced him to join in the plan," Ms Clark told the court, "but you will hear evidence about the kind of influence that his older brother had."
The prosecutor delivered his statements first. Mr Tsarnaev's lead defence attorney followed, and immediately shocked the court by candidly telling the jury that he was responsible for the attack. In the courtroom - Tara McKelvey, BBC News
The 21-year-old suspect slouched in his chair and stared straight ahead as the prosecutor, William Weinreb, began his opening statement. Mr Tsarnaev was wearing a dark jacket, crumpled in the back, and had a goatee. His hair was thick and dark brown with flyaway strands.
Detailing the scene near the finish line just under two years ago, the prosecutor said: "The air was filled with the smell of burning sulphur and people's screams." He sat next to his lawyer, Judy Clarke, in the front row of the courtroom, as he listened to Assistant US Attorney William Weinreb describe what happened on the day of the bombings.
Mr Weinreb described the backpack bomb that Mr Tsarnaev allegedly planted at the finish as "the type of bombs favoured by terrorists because it's designed to tear people apart and create a bloody spectacle." The story was harrowing, and Weinreb directed the jurors' attention to a photo shown on computer screens in the room.
Among those in attendance were Denise and Bill Richard, whose 8-year-old son, Martin, died in the bombings. It showed a boy, Martin Richard, who was a third-grader when he was killed in the explosions. In the photo Richard was smiling and looking eager - as if he was ready to jump into a playground game.
As they looked on, the prosecutor told the jury that Ms Richard watched helplessly as "the bomb tore large chunks of flesh out of Martin Richard". Mr Tsarnaev stared straight ahead and didn't seem to look at the pictures of the boy.
The boy had been standing on a metal barrier with other children so that he could better see the runners crossing the finish line. She said that her team would not attempt to "sidestep" Mr Tsarnaev's guilt in carrying out the "senseless, horribly misguided acts carried out by two brothers".
Instead, she will argue that Tamerlan was the mastermind of the plot who coerced the younger sibling into being a submissive participant.
In turn, federal prosecutors laid out a case for Mr Tsarnaev's culpability and began their push to convince the jury to vote in favour of executing him.
Speaking in explicit detail and presenting the jury with a grisly video, federal prosecutor William Weinreb portrayed Mr Tsarnaev as a cold-blooded killer that had "murder in his heart" and "believed that he was a soldier in a holy war against Americans".
The jurors were shown a video of the moments after the first bomb exploded. It showed a huge blast of smoke, and several police officers running to the scene where people could be seen lying in pools of blood. The panel was visibly shaken by the graphic images.
Throughout the day, a handful of witness went before the jury. The defence only sparingly questioned their testimony.
As the lawyers presented their cases, about two dozen victims of the attacks, sitting as a group in the left side of the courtroom, looked on.
Among those in attendance were Denise and Bill Richard, whose eight-year-old son, Martin, died in the bombings.
As they watched from the rear of the room, the prosecutor told the jury that Ms Richard watched helplessly as "the bomb tore large chunks of flesh out of Martin Richard".
Heather Abbott, who lost a leg in the attack, sat near the Richard family.Heather Abbott, who lost a leg in the attack, sat near the Richard family.
"While victims of the bombing lay in the hospital and learned that they would have to have their limbs chopped off to save their lives, the defendant pretended that nothing had happened," Mr Weinreb said, noting that Mr Tsarnaev returned to socialise with his friends at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth following the attack."While victims of the bombing lay in the hospital and learned that they would have to have their limbs chopped off to save their lives, the defendant pretended that nothing had happened," Mr Weinreb said, noting that Mr Tsarnaev returned to socialise with his friends at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth following the attack.
Judy Clarke, a famed attorney who has represented a number of high-profile suspects in the past, began her opening remarks by saying: "It was him." As the day unfolded, Mr Tsarnaev, who appeared in court with shaggy hair and a goatee, slouched in his seat and showed little reaction.
She said that her team would not attempt to "sidestep" Mr Tsarnaev's guilt in carrying out the "senseless, horribly misguided acts carried out by two brothers". The trial will be split into two parts. This first phase is to determine his guilt or innocence. If convicted, a second phase will determine the punishment, and the jury will have to decide whether he will be put to death.
Instead, she will argue that his elder brother, Tamerlan, was the mastermind of the plot and coerced the younger sibling into being a submissive participant. Ms Clark has helped a number of high-profile clients avoid execution. They include the so-called Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski and the man responsible for killing six people and severely wounding former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Jared Loughner.
After the lawyers concluded their opening statements, several witnesses were brought before the jury to testify. The entire trial is expected to last three to four months.
The jurors were also shown a video of one of the explosions. It showed a huge blast of smoke, and several police officers running to the scene.
Mr Tsarnaev is also accused of killing a police officer in the days after the bombing.
A huge police manhunt followed the attacks, culminating in Mr Tsarnaev's arrest and the death of his elder brother.