Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Found Guilty For The Boston Bombing, Faces Death Penalty

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of two brothers who perpetrated the dual explosions at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon, has been found guilty on all 30 charges levelled against him, and now faces the death penalty.

Such was the length and severity of the list of charges Tsarnaev was on trial for that the Massachusetts Supreme Court jury took 26 minutes to announce its verdict in full. Not a single charge heard was returned with a not guilty verdict. Tsarnaev was found unequivocally at fault on all thirty counts – seventeen of which carry the maximum penalty of death.
Dzhokhar was found guilty of the crimes almost two years to the day since they occurred. He and his brother Tamerlan placed two pressure bombs, made from pressure cookers, along the crowded finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15th, 2013. They exploded 12 seconds, and around 190 metres apart, killing 3 people and injuring approximately 264 more.
The manhunt that ensued over the following 4 days gripped the city of Boston in widespread fear, and resulted in the death of one police officer, along with Dzhokhar’s brother Tamerlan. Dzhokhar was captured on April 19th, hiding out in the covered boat of a resident of Watertown, to the west of Boston.
Far from being a close trial, at no time was it expected that the jury would return a verdict of anything other than guilty. This, perfectly exemplified, by Dzhokhar enlisting Judy Clarke as his defence attorney – one of the US’s leading legal experts in keeping defendants off of death row.
The charges themselves are staggering. Conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. Use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. Possession and use of a Firearm in relation to a Crime of Violence resulting in Death. Conspiracy to Bomb – and Bombing of – a place of Public Use resulting in Death. Carjacking.
All guilty. All confirmed to have resulted in murder.
The jury heard that the Tsarnaev brothers had acted as lone wolves, and had intended to punish America. The jury saw and heard photos, footage, and audio of the chaotic and horrific scenes that ensued in the moments following the bombings. And as they read their verdict out, Dzhokhar stood, with his head bowed, and clasped his hands.
Today’s verdict represents the completion of the first half of the trail. The court will reconvene, potentially as early as next week, where the jury will then have the duty to decide whether or Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21 years old, and guilty on 30 counts of transgressing US Federal Law, will either receive life in prison with no remote possibility of parole, or if his crimes were severe enough that he should pay for them with his own life.
Photo: Handout via Getty Images.

via CNN.

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