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Boston Marathon bombing: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's fate now rests with jury Boston Marathon bombing: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's fate now rests with jury
(about 17 hours later)
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s fate now moves to the hands of a jury, after a vehement and emotionally charged closing statement from the prosecutor in the Boston bombing trial on Monday.Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s fate now moves to the hands of a jury, after a vehement and emotionally charged closing statement from the prosecutor in the Boston bombing trial on Monday.
Assistant US attorney Aloke Chakravarty strove to remind jurors of the sheer horror of the 2013 marathon bomb attack, focusing on Martin Richard, the young boy who was killed by the second bomb, and whose father was in the courtroom.Assistant US attorney Aloke Chakravarty strove to remind jurors of the sheer horror of the 2013 marathon bomb attack, focusing on Martin Richard, the young boy who was killed by the second bomb, and whose father was in the courtroom.
“His entire body was shattered; broken; eviscerated; burned,” Chakravarty said. “There wasn’t a part of this boy’s body that wasn’t destroyed.”“His entire body was shattered; broken; eviscerated; burned,” Chakravarty said. “There wasn’t a part of this boy’s body that wasn’t destroyed.”
It was part of a dramatic day in a federal court in Boston, as the jury heard closing arguments in the trial of Tsarnaev, the younger and only survivor of two brothers accused of perpetrating the bomb attack on the 2013 Boston Marathon that left three dead and hundreds injured.It was part of a dramatic day in a federal court in Boston, as the jury heard closing arguments in the trial of Tsarnaev, the younger and only survivor of two brothers accused of perpetrating the bomb attack on the 2013 Boston Marathon that left three dead and hundreds injured.
It is now down to the jury to decide whether to find Tsarnaev guilty on the 30 counts against him, of which 17 carry a possible death sentence.It is now down to the jury to decide whether to find Tsarnaev guilty on the 30 counts against him, of which 17 carry a possible death sentence.
If Tsarnaev is found guilty of one or all of the capital offences with which he is charged, the trial will enter a second phase, known as the sentencing phase. In this phase, the same jury will hear more evidence and testimony, following which they will decide whether to give Tsarnaev the death penalty. A vote for death must be unanimous.If Tsarnaev is found guilty of one or all of the capital offences with which he is charged, the trial will enter a second phase, known as the sentencing phase. In this phase, the same jury will hear more evidence and testimony, following which they will decide whether to give Tsarnaev the death penalty. A vote for death must be unanimous.
As he laid out the prosecution’s case for the jury, Chakravarty referred to Richard’s father, Bill, who had previously testified with piercing pathos: “I guess we were just unlucky that day.”As he laid out the prosecution’s case for the jury, Chakravarty referred to Richard’s father, Bill, who had previously testified with piercing pathos: “I guess we were just unlucky that day.”
“There was nothing about this day that was a twist of fate,” Chakravarty said, his voice filled with anger. “This was a cold, calculated terrorist act. It was intentional; it was bloodthirsty.”“There was nothing about this day that was a twist of fate,” Chakravarty said, his voice filled with anger. “This was a cold, calculated terrorist act. It was intentional; it was bloodthirsty.”
The prosecution replayed for the jury the video taken of the bomb detonating in the crowd outside the Forum restaurant on Boylston Street, and followed it immediately with the harrowing and extremely graphic video shot on a camera phone immediately afterward that filled the courtroom with the sounds of terror.The prosecution replayed for the jury the video taken of the bomb detonating in the crowd outside the Forum restaurant on Boylston Street, and followed it immediately with the harrowing and extremely graphic video shot on a camera phone immediately afterward that filled the courtroom with the sounds of terror.
Chakravarty was also careful to portray the relationship between Tsarnaev and his elder brother Tamerlan as being one of partnership, to counter the defense’s narrative of a young, weak-minded follower in thrall to his more powerful and radicalised elder sibling.Chakravarty was also careful to portray the relationship between Tsarnaev and his elder brother Tamerlan as being one of partnership, to counter the defense’s narrative of a young, weak-minded follower in thrall to his more powerful and radicalised elder sibling.
“That day they felt like they were soldiers. They were mujahideen, and they were bringing their battle to Boston,” said Chakravarty, who multiple times during his statement referred to the brothers as “partners” and said they were “in this together”.“That day they felt like they were soldiers. They were mujahideen, and they were bringing their battle to Boston,” said Chakravarty, who multiple times during his statement referred to the brothers as “partners” and said they were “in this together”.
Central to the prosecution’s case was the manifesto on the wall of the dry-docked boat in which Tsarnaev was found by police: “The U.S. Government is killing our innocent civilians but most of you already know that ... we Muslims are one body, you hurt one you hurt us all.” Central to the prosecution’s case was the manifesto on the wall of the dry-docked boat in which Tsarnaev was found by police: “The US Government is killing our innocent civilians but most of you already know that ... we Muslims are one body, you hurt one you hurt us all.”
It is not thought that the jury will take long to reach their verdict. While Tsarnaev has entered an official plea of not guilty, his defence team have effectively entered a guilty plea by default. In her opening statement, defence attorney Judy Clarke opened with the striking words “it was him”, and in her closing statement Monday she reiterated that sentiment.It is not thought that the jury will take long to reach their verdict. While Tsarnaev has entered an official plea of not guilty, his defence team have effectively entered a guilty plea by default. In her opening statement, defence attorney Judy Clarke opened with the striking words “it was him”, and in her closing statement Monday she reiterated that sentiment.
“In the past few weeks we have come face to face with tragedy, suffering and grief in dimensions that none of us could imagine possible,” Clarke said. “For this destruction, suffering and profound loss there is no excuse. No one is trying to make one. Planting bombs at the Boston Marathon one year and 51 weeks ago was a senseless act.”“In the past few weeks we have come face to face with tragedy, suffering and grief in dimensions that none of us could imagine possible,” Clarke said. “For this destruction, suffering and profound loss there is no excuse. No one is trying to make one. Planting bombs at the Boston Marathon one year and 51 weeks ago was a senseless act.”
However, speaking quietly, and occasionally trying to joke with the jury, Clarke moved to promote the defence’s narrative – that of a young, troubled Tsarnaev (to whom she referred, as she has throughout, by his university nickname “Jahar”) in thrall to his powerful older brother Tamerlan.However, speaking quietly, and occasionally trying to joke with the jury, Clarke moved to promote the defence’s narrative – that of a young, troubled Tsarnaev (to whom she referred, as she has throughout, by his university nickname “Jahar”) in thrall to his powerful older brother Tamerlan.
“The prosecution attempted to bring evidence that Jahar was an equal partner and he self-radicalised – this is simply not true,” she said. “The evidence is that Tamerlan built the bombs, Tamerlan murdered Officer Collier, Tamerlan led and Jahar followed.”“The prosecution attempted to bring evidence that Jahar was an equal partner and he self-radicalised – this is simply not true,” she said. “The evidence is that Tamerlan built the bombs, Tamerlan murdered Officer Collier, Tamerlan led and Jahar followed.”
She also took the government to task for “cherrypicking” tweets from Tsarnaev’s account to portray him as self-radicalised and paint a picture of “evil”, leaving out tweets about girls, not doing homework and the pleasures of going back to sleep after breakfast.She also took the government to task for “cherrypicking” tweets from Tsarnaev’s account to portray him as self-radicalised and paint a picture of “evil”, leaving out tweets about girls, not doing homework and the pleasures of going back to sleep after breakfast.
But in a brief rebuttal following Clarke’s statement, prosecuting attorney William Weinreb hit back at the defence. “[Clarke] told us in her opening statement that her client is not going to sidestep responsibility for what he did,” he said, “but that is exactly what he is trying to do.But in a brief rebuttal following Clarke’s statement, prosecuting attorney William Weinreb hit back at the defence. “[Clarke] told us in her opening statement that her client is not going to sidestep responsibility for what he did,” he said, “but that is exactly what he is trying to do.
“He’s entirely to try to pin the blame on somebody else,” Weinreb continued, “but you should see that for what it is. Its an attempt to sidestep responsibility, not to take responsibility.” “He’s entirely to try to pin the blame on somebody else,” Weinreb continued, “but you should see that for what it is. It’s an attempt to sidestep responsibility, not to take responsibility.”
“To shred the bodies of women and children ... you have to be different from other people,” Weinreb said.“To shred the bodies of women and children ... you have to be different from other people,” Weinreb said.
“If you are capable of such hate, such callousness, that you could murder and maim nearly 20 people, then drive to Whole Foods to buy milk – can you really blame it on your brother?”“If you are capable of such hate, such callousness, that you could murder and maim nearly 20 people, then drive to Whole Foods to buy milk – can you really blame it on your brother?”