BOMBING AT BOSTON MARATHON-GRAPHIC PHOTOS

[Maggot]

Its a federal trial so, he will get death. mass has nothing to do with it.

[username]

Its a federal trial so, he will get death. mass has nothing to do with it.

Fixing your earlier post?

[HairOfTheDog]

"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.

[Duchess]

I'm usually very wary of a jury and don't have much faith in them but this case feels different to me. I don't think the jury will be at all hesitant to put him on death row.

[username]

Given that the jury was pre-qualified to be prepared to deliver a death sentence if warranted, I'm sort of changing my mind and starting to think there IS a distinct possibility that he will get the death sentence.

Unless, as HotD said, the defense can really put some compelling mitigating factors in to their penalty phase arguments.

[Duchess]

I couldn't possibly know this but I think some of the jurors have become emotionally involved. There has been a lot of shock and a lot of tears, particularly during the medical examiners testimony. They got to see the pix, the public did not and of course witness after witness who took the stand and many of them are maimed, either with a loss of a leg (or two) or an arm.

I know jurors are supposed to leave emotions out of it but when you see people and the horror of their loss and know their stories intimately it's terribly difficult to not be emotional. People were weeping when little Martin's story was told. The medical examiner said there wasn't a part of his small body that hadn't been touched by the bomb and that he had a gaping hole where his stomach was. That kind of testimony really effects people.

[HairOfTheDog]

Penalty Phase of Trial Begins on Tuesday, April 21^st

The penalty phase, to determine whether Tsarnaev will get natural life in prison or the death penalty, won't begin until next week.

"The defendant has requested that the penalty phase commence in approximately two weeks so as to, among other things, allow the defendant additional time to resolve outstanding logistical issues with a number of potential witnesses. It is not uncommon for there to be a brief recess between phases in a capital case," Judge George O'Toole said last week.

The 2015 Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20^th.

[Blindgreed1]

Isn't today the two year anniversary of the bombing?

[Duchess]

Isn't today the two year anniversary of the bombing?

Yes, it is but I had to go back and look at the very first post to know that. I haven't heard it mentioned all day but I've been busy too so I guess that doesn't mean anything.

[HairOfTheDog]

Isn't today the two year anniversary of the bombing?

You're right Gunnar, it is -- I just saw an anniversary story.

What a very sad day that was.



Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Mayor Marty Walsh, and crowds of Bostonians gathered at the finish line today for a moment of silence and to remember the victims.

April 15^th has been declared "One Boston Day" by Walsh; a day on which Bostonians are encouraged to show kindness and generosity.

[Duchess]

It will be a long time, if ever, before I forget the sight of the young man in the wheelchair being pushed while a man in a cowboy hat ran alongside him holding his arteries so he didn't bleed out.

[Midwest Spy]

Isn't today the two year anniversary of the bombing?

Yes, it is but I had to go back and look at the very first post to know that. I haven't heard it mentioned all day but I've been busy too so I guess that doesn't mean anything.

Couldn't figure out why flags were at half-staff today, then it dawned on me.

It was either Abe dying 150 years ago or the Boston bombing.

[blueberryhill]

Isn't today the two year anniversary of the bombing?

Yes, it is but I had to go back and look at the very first post to know that. I haven't heard it mentioned all day but I've been busy too so I guess that doesn't mean anything.

Couldn't figure out why flags were at half-staff today, then it dawned on me.

It was either Abe dying 150 years ago or the Boston bombing.

Flags were at half staff at White House today to honor President Lincoln who died 150 years ago today.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's about time somebody told MS right off the top that he's a...twat!

I've been thinking it for a long time, but I'm too sweet to say anything.


P.s. Don't feel bad MS. Maggot called me a twat last week (and he did it on purpose, I'm sure of it).

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm still smiling at the TWAT sitting atop blueberry's post.

So, yesterday was the second anniversary of the bombing. Monday the 2015 Boston Marathon will take place. And Tuesday the penalty phase of convicted terrorist Dzohokhar Tsarnaev's trial will begin.

While the Federal government will argue that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be sentenced to death, not all of his victims' families agree.


Jennifer Lemmerman, the sister of MIT Police Officer ^ Sean Collier, who was killed in the aftermath of the Boston marathon bombing, believes that Tsarnaev should be sentenced to life in prison.


^ Lemmerman stated: "Whenever someone speaks out against the death penalty, they are challenged to imagine how they would feel if someone they love were killed. I’ve been given that horrible perspective and I can say that my position has only strengthened. I also can’t imagine that killing in response to killing would ever bring me peace or justice. . . . I choose to remember Sean for the light that he brought. No more darkness."

[Duchess]

I've heard more than a few people say that killing him is too easy, that he should be made to suffer in gp behind bars for the rest of his life.

[Maggot]

He should have been shot in the balls when he came out of the boat.

[Duchess]

They certainly had him sighted in for that. It was crazy wild seeing that little red dot moving around his head and heart area. He was going down if he made even the slightest of wrong move.

[HairOfTheDog]

I've heard more than a few people say that killing him is too easy, that he should be made to suffer in gp behind bars for the rest of his life.

Some of his fatal victims' families might help Tsarnaev avoid getting sentenced to death if they ask for him to be spared in their victim impact statements.

Slain police officer Sean Collier's family wants Tsarnaev to be sentenced to life without parole.

And, today the parents of slain 8-year-old bombing victim Martin Richard asked the DOJ to take the death penalty off the table in exchange for Tsarnaev agreeing to waive all appeals.


^ The Richard Family (Martin is in the Santa hat).

Here's a portion of what parents Bill and Denise Richard wrote in their op-ed piece published in the Boston Globe:
We understand all too well the heinousness and brutality of the crimes committed. We were there. We lived it. The defendant murdered our 8-year-old son, maimed our 7-year-old daughter, and stole part of our soul. We know that the government has its reasons for seeking the death penalty, but the continued pursuit of that punishment could bring years of appeals and prolong reliving the most painful day of our lives. We hope our two remaining children do not have to grow up with the lingering, painful reminder of what the defendant took from them, which years of appeals would undoubtedly bring.
More: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/04...story.html

I don't know how the families of the two other fatal victims or the dozens of those maimed in the bombing feel about taking the death penalty off the table.

[HairOfTheDog]

The people of Boston are really pretty cool and amazing in their strength and resolve; at least I think so based on the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing.


^ One survivor -- Rebekah Gregory, 27 (pictured left and center) -- ran the marathon today on a prosthetic leg. She declared, "This is the day I take back my life". The Marathon's wheelchair winner, 3 years in a row, gave her award to Martin Richard's dad (bottom right) in memory of his 8-year-old who died in the blast.


^Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes each lost a leg in the blast. They competed in the wheelchair segment of the Marathon last year on the first anniversary of the bombing. Today they issued a statement to the Boston Globe, 'If there is anyone who deserves the ultimate punishment, it is the defendant. However, we must overcome the impulse for vengeance.'

They call their position 'intensely emotional and profoundly practical.' They join Martin Richard's and Sean Collier's families, the Boston Globe editorial board, and Senator Elizabeth Warren in pushing for Tsarnaev to recieve a penalty of life without parole rather than a death sentence.

The penalty phase of the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's trial starts tomorrow. I don't care if he lives or dies, so long as he never has an opportunity to live freely again.