Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has one last chance of impressing the jury as the Boston marathon attack closing arguments are scheduled to begin today, April 6, in the first phase of the trial.
His lawyers will continue to present him in the light of a young college student who was manipulated by his radicalized older brother Tamerlan. Prosecution, on the other hand, is planning on reminding members of the jury of the viciousness of the attack. The bombing took place on April 15, 2013. Three people, including an 8-year-old boy were killed and 264 were injured as a result of two pressure-cooker bombs placed at the finish line.
Dzhokhar’s attorney did declare during her opening statement that the accused was involved in the bombings but pointed out that his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was the one who plotted the entire attack. Clark described how Dzhokhar’s 26-year-old brother became radicalized and manipulated Tsarnev who was then 19 to help him complete his “mission” which he justified as revenge against the Unites State’s operations in Muslim countries.
Legal analysts consider the defense will continue with this tactic in order to convince the jury that Dzhokhar was not the main criminal in this attack. This way, he would no longer face the possibility of a death penalty. Instead, he would probably be sentenced to life in prison. The second phase of the trial will reveal the jury’s decision.
Up until now, the defense had four witnesses used to convince the jury that Tamerlan‘s PC history included many searches regarding bomb components while Dzhokhar’s computer activity included mostly Facebook and other similar social media sites. The defense also made references to the fingerprints belonging to the older brother which were detected on some of the bomb parts found at the scene of the attack.
Meanwhile, prosecutors will try to convince the jury that both brothers were equally involved in the attack. During the trial, they called witnesses who stated the two were seen practicing at a New Hampshire firing range one month before the attack and that Dzhokhar had fireworks in his dorm room which were emptied of their explosive powder. Prosecution will also make references to the scribbled message found in the boat where he was captured condemning the U.S. for the wars in Muslim countries.
The country now anxiously awaits to see how the trial will evolve.
Image Source: Fatal News
