04-09-2015, 05:16 PM
(04-09-2015, 12:16 PM)username Wrote: "Jurors will be asked to weigh aggravating factors such as the heinousness of his crimes against mitigating factors such as his family and mental health history, as well as his relative youth. Tsarnaev was 19 at the time of the bombing".
His age at the time, his brother's supposed influence over him and indications that he (the older brother) was the one who actually bought and assembled the bombs...? I think that could give a juror or two pause.
Or not. I don't know how this will turn out. The jurors were supposedly pre-qualified or something for the death penalty so I gather they're not supposed to have some rigid, moral opposition to it.
Those same mitigating factors were part of the defense strategy in the guilt phase of the trial; I thought it was convenient and unconvincing to blame the dead older brother. There was a lot of evidence regarding Dzhokhar's individual contribution to the brothers' team effort and Dzhokhar was an adult who was attending college away from his brother, had his own circle of friends, etc...
But, you're right -- we haven't heard everything the defense has to present. Tsarnaev's attorney has always known that guilt or innocence wasn't the question in this trial; the question is life or death. It's quite possible that the defense will be much more compelling and robust in the penalty phase than the guilt phase of this trial and Dzhokhar could end up being sentenced to life. I think he'll get death, but I wouldn't be shocked if he's spared.
P.s. I wonder if the Defense could present momma's post-verdict rant in court. That might go some distance in demonstrating that the murdering terrorist's family history screwed with his mind and his morals.