03-02-2015, 06:31 PM
The Trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev -- Opening Statements set for Wednesday, March 4th 2015
![[Image: AP893081903628-620x449.jpg]](http://s3.amazonaws.com/media.wbur.org/wordpress/1/files/2014/12/AP893081903628-620x449.jpg)
LOGISTICS
The Federal Trial will be held in Boston -- the Defense lost its motions for change of venue.
Tomorrow, attorneys are expected to narrow down the pool of 70 potential jurors and select the final 18 (including 6 who will ultimately be deemed alternates). Jurors will hear Opening Statements on Wednesday. The trial is expected to last through June.
MOTIONS PENDING
1. THE BOAT -- The Defense wants the jury to see the boat in which Tsarnaev was hiding when he was captured. They want the jury to see the cramped space and the bullet-ridden exterior. The prosecution wants the jury to see only panels of the boat, especially the panel upon which Tsarnaev wrote his confession (the Defense admits he wrote it) blaming US intervention in the Middle East for the fact that he and his older brother, Tamberlin -- killed by police after the bombing -- decided to bomb a public event packed with women, children, seniors, families, athletes...
2. THE VICTIM PHOTOS-- The Defense does not want the jury to see forensic photos of the 3 people who were killed in the bombing (including an 8 year-old boy), nor the photos of all the surviving victims who lost limbs in the blast. The Defense attorney claims that's because it will be too painful for the victims and their families. <--BULLSHIT
IMO, Tsarnaev and his attorneys want those graphic and horrible photos to be barred because they work heavily against Tsarnaev; they show the carnage that the defendant planned and carried out against unsuspecting victims.
The Prosecution, of course, wants to show the photos (probably repeatedly).
PROSECUTION vs DEFENSE CLAIMS
The Prosecution will argue that Tamberlin and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were motivated by Islamic extremism and thus committed terrorist acts when they bombed the 2012 Boston Marathon with pressure bombs, fled, and later killed a police officer.
The Defense will argue that Dzhokhar was simply a victim of his (dead) older brother's influence.
THE CHARGES
Tsarnaev faces 30 charges; 17 of which are subject to punishment by death. Counts/charges here --> http://www.wbur.org/2015/01/05/dzhokhar-...ev-charges
LOGISTICS
The Federal Trial will be held in Boston -- the Defense lost its motions for change of venue.
Tomorrow, attorneys are expected to narrow down the pool of 70 potential jurors and select the final 18 (including 6 who will ultimately be deemed alternates). Jurors will hear Opening Statements on Wednesday. The trial is expected to last through June.
MOTIONS PENDING
1. THE BOAT -- The Defense wants the jury to see the boat in which Tsarnaev was hiding when he was captured. They want the jury to see the cramped space and the bullet-ridden exterior. The prosecution wants the jury to see only panels of the boat, especially the panel upon which Tsarnaev wrote his confession (the Defense admits he wrote it) blaming US intervention in the Middle East for the fact that he and his older brother, Tamberlin -- killed by police after the bombing -- decided to bomb a public event packed with women, children, seniors, families, athletes...
2. THE VICTIM PHOTOS-- The Defense does not want the jury to see forensic photos of the 3 people who were killed in the bombing (including an 8 year-old boy), nor the photos of all the surviving victims who lost limbs in the blast. The Defense attorney claims that's because it will be too painful for the victims and their families. <--BULLSHIT
IMO, Tsarnaev and his attorneys want those graphic and horrible photos to be barred because they work heavily against Tsarnaev; they show the carnage that the defendant planned and carried out against unsuspecting victims.
The Prosecution, of course, wants to show the photos (probably repeatedly).
PROSECUTION vs DEFENSE CLAIMS
The Prosecution will argue that Tamberlin and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were motivated by Islamic extremism and thus committed terrorist acts when they bombed the 2012 Boston Marathon with pressure bombs, fled, and later killed a police officer.
The Defense will argue that Dzhokhar was simply a victim of his (dead) older brother's influence.
THE CHARGES
Tsarnaev faces 30 charges; 17 of which are subject to punishment by death. Counts/charges here --> http://www.wbur.org/2015/01/05/dzhokhar-...ev-charges