Boston Marathon Bombing (Photo : REUTERS/Dan Lampariello)
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been pronounced guilty in all 30 counts in the Boston Marathon Bombing trials. With that done, the toughest phase of the trial is about to begin in which the same jury will now have to decide whether this makes Tsarnaev eligible for an outright death sentence or a life behind bars.
Along with his brother Tamerlan, Tsarnaev carried out the dastardly act of terrorism on April 15, 2013 that left three dead and about 260 others injured, many of whom are left impaired for the rest of their lives. It was fun and frolicking all through on that fateful day that was instantly transformed into a scene of carnage with blood splattered pavements, shattered limbs and body parts strewn around, with smell of sulphur and burning hair hanging heavy in the air.
Defense attorney Judy Clarke didn't react to the development but had tried to put the blame entirely on Tamerlan, Tasrnaev's elder brother. She claimed it was Tamerlan who was highly radicalised with Tsarnaev, then 19, just following in the footsteps of his brother, reported Dallas News.
Prosecutors though held both the brothers as equal partners in crime and were fully aware of the consequences. Among the charges that Tsarnaev has been proved guilty of include conspiracy and use of weapons of mass destruction.
Tasrnaev remained calm and betrayed no emotions as the guilty verdicts were being read out. Clarke also argued Tsarnaev has been the victim of circumstances beyond his control, which include a volatile situation in his home town Chechnya, his immigrant status and his parent's divorce. Tsarnaev does not have any criminal record prior to the Boston bombing incident.
What remains to the seen is how the jury is likely to respond in a state where the public opinion is heavily biased against death penalties. Clarke too is held as the most prominent figure in the country in saving her clients from the gallows.
The Boston Marathon Bombing is also described as one of the worst cases of terrorist attacks ever carried out on American soil after the September 11 attacks on the WTC in New York, according to NYTimes.
Tamerlan was shot at by the police days later after the incident and was run over by his brother in a botched up escape attempt.
Massachusetts has abolished death penalty in 1984 and none has been executed in the state since 1947.
