Boston Bomber Tsarnaev Found Guilty

Boston Bomber Tsarnaev Found Guilty

Geoffrey Cahr, Staff Writer

Subsequent to a lengthy 11½-hour deliberation held on Wednesday, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty on 30 counts of murder Wednesday.

 

The trial officially began March 4, 2015 after two months in search of a jury. It concluded on Monday April 6 with expectations of guilty charges on most— if not all— crimes.

 

“This was a cold, calculated terrorist act. This was intentional. It was bloodthirsty. It was to make a point. It was to tell America that ‘We will not be terrorized by you anymore. We will terrorize you” Assistant U.S Attorney Aloke Chakravarty said to the jurors.

 

“We don’t deny that Dzhokhar fully participated in the events,” noted Tsarnaev’s defense Attorney Judy Clarke, saying that “if not for [ Tsarnaev’s older brother] Tamerlan it would not have happened.”.

 

Back in 2013, Tsarneav’s parents were granted one phone call to him from his prison hospital. The 19-year-old calmingly insisted that he was “fine” and worked to keep his mom as calm as he was. “Everything is good, please don’t say anything.”

 

He countered this perception of the case while in court on Wednesday. According to CNN reporter Alexandra Field, Tsarnaev was “fidgeting, rubbing his chin, scratching the back of his head” and “not looking at the jury.”

 

The jury finally came to an agreement on Wednesday concluding that Tsarnaev was guilty of all 30 verdicts, seventeen of which qualified him for the death penalty.

 

A relieved bombing survivor, Jeff Bauman, said, “Nothing can ever replace the lives that were lost or changed forever, but at least there is some relief in knowing that justice is served and responsibility will be taken.”

 

The trial, now moving to penalty phase, will conclude early next week when the sentencing hearing is over. The question: Will Tsarnaev be executed, or serve life in prison without parole?