Marathon suspect's friends deny obstruction charge
By Associated Press
Aug 13, 2013 1:56 PM CDT
FILE--This courtroom sketch of May 1, 2013 by artist Jane Flavell Collins shows defendants Dias Kadyrbayev, left, and Azamat Tazhayakov appearing in front of Federal Magistrate Marianne Bowler at the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston. The two college friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar...   (Associated Press)

Two friends of the surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect have pleaded not guilty to disposing of evidence from his college dormitory room.

Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov were arraigned Tuesday in federal court on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Prosecutors say the 19-year-olds from Kazakhstan tried to thwart the investigation of the deadly April explosions by throwing away fireworks and other items they found in the room of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the day before his capture.

Authorities found the fireworks in a landfill.

Lawyers for both men have said they did nothing wrong.

If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.