Boston Marathon Bombing Trial Update: Suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's Defense Complains of Judge's Jury Selection Process in Court
The final phase of jury selection in the Boston Marathon bomber trial resumed on Thursday as defense lawyers spoke out against the federal judge questioning the potential jurors.
Lawyers representing bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev complained U.S. District Judge George O'Toole failed to ask sufficiently detailed questions, according to Reuters. Following the examination of the first three jury candidates, defense attorney David Bruck paused proceedings, arguing Judge O'Toole was not asking jurors specifically if they would be able to sentence Tsarnaev to life in prison if he is found guilty of the terrorism.
"It doesn't matter whether the juror might vote for life in an unintentional killing because that's not what we're dealing with," Bruck said "We really don't think we're going to have a fair jury unless they're asked."
In response, the judge rebuffed the request, noting the jurors summoned for questioning were made aware of the broad details of the case. He also pointed out they had already filled out detailed written questionnaires.
"The jurors know that this is about a bombing and they know that there were three people who were killed," O'Toole said. "They have those specifics already in their minds."
Tsarnaev and his now deceased brother, Tamerlan, are accused of planting two bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013, killing three people and injuring 264 others. In addition, prosecutors say the Chechen brothers fatally shot a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer three days later. Tamerlan, 26, was then killed in a gun battle with police that same day.
The 21-year-old suspected terrorist has pleaded not guilty to 30 charges connected to the explosions and could face the death penalty if convicted. The defense argues Tamerlan was the mastermind behind the attack.
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