Tsarnaev Guilty on All Counts, Faces Death Penalty

Next phase of trial begins next week
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 8, 2015 1:28 PM CDT
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Guilty, Will Face Death Penalty
This file photo released April 19, 2013, by the FBI shows Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.   (AP Photo/Federal Bureau of Investigation, File)

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been found guilty on all 30 counts he faced for his role in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, including 17 that make him eligible for the death penalty, the AP reports. A US District Court jury in Boston returned the verdict after about 11 hours of deliberation, per NBC News. Tsarnaev next heads to the death penalty phase, which could start as early as Monday. The 21-year-old's life will hinge on whether the jury believes his defense team's contention that he was under the sway of older brother Tamerlan.

The Boston Globe's description of Tsarnaev's reaction as the verdicts were announced: He "wiped his face at one point. At another, he wrapped his arms across his chest. But he did not show any signs of strong emotion even as he learned he could face the death penalty. When the verdicts had been read, he sat down in his chair and rubbed his left eye, his face still blank." Among the 30 counts were those for the murders of marathon attendees Richard Martin, 8, Lingzi Lu, 23, and Krystle Campbell, 29, and for MIT officer Sean Collier, 26. (More Dzhokhar Tsarnaev stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X