BOMBING AT BOSTON MARATHON-GRAPHIC PHOTOS

[Duchess]

I'm starting to think they may not put him to death after all. I believe some consideration will be given to the victims and what they want.

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm starting to think they may not put him to death after all. I believe some consideration will be given to the victims and what they want.

I don't know if those victims who oppose the death penalty will have an opportunity to testify to that effect in the penalty phase. I think the Defense would be wise to call them, if so permitted.

Yesterday, the prosecutors showed this picture of Tsarnaev to the jury.


It was taken inside his cell as he was getting ready to be arraigned, 3 months after the bombing. The prosecutor told the jury that it was Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's message to America and that he deserves the ultimate penalty because, as the photo shows, he is "unconcerned, unrepentant and unchanged."

The prosecutor repeatedly called him a "willing" participant in the plot who was "callous and indifferent" to human life.

"You may hear about family dynamics, family history, family dysfunction," Prosecutor Pellegrini said. "But many people — millions of people, I would venture — face troubles throughout their lives. Who among them murders people with a bomb?"

Prosecutors have rejected defense attempts for a plea deal in the case, even though many of the bombing victims — and a majority of Bostonians — support a life sentence without parole.

Ref: http://news.yahoo.com/tsarnaev-middle-fi...20008.html

[Duchess]

Such a waste. All the way around.

I look at him and see a kid, a kid that murdered, but nonetheless, a kid.

[HairOfTheDog]

PENALTY DELIBERATIONS UNDERWAY

The jury is now considering whether Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be sentenced to life without parole or death.

I'm starting to think it's more likely that Maggot is right about Tsarnaev escaping the death penalty.

Even though it's a federal case and the jurors are death-penalty qualified, the fact that the jurors are from a state that bans the death penalty, added to the fact that Tsarnaev had about the best mitigation defense attorneys and witnesses possible, might save his ass.

I think if he and his brother had bombed an event in Texas, I'd feel like much more confident at this point that he'd end up on death row, no matter how good his penalty phase defense.

In my opinion, if one believes in the death penalty, the crimes committed by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev make him a prime candidate to receive it since he is perfectly sane.

But, Judy Clarke presented all kinds of witnesses testifying as to what a good kid he was, how much influence his older brother had over him, how tumultuous his home life had been, etc...

She also called prominent death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejean who testified that he expressed genuine sorrow for the victims.


"No one deserves to suffer like they did," ^ Prejean quoted him as saying.

Prejean, a Roman Catholic nun whose story was told in the 1995 movie "Dead Man Walking," starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, met with Tsarnaev five times since March at the request of the defense.

Prejean, who smiled at Tsarnaev several times during her testimony, said she could hear "pain" in his voice when he said he regretted what happened to the victims in the 2013 attack, which left three people dead and more than 260 wounded.

"I had every reason to think that he was taking it in and that he was genuinely sorry for what he did," Prejean testified as the final witness for the defense in the penalty phase of the trial.

Prosecutors had fought unsuccessfully to keep Prejean off the witness stand.

If I had to place odds, I'd say ⁵⁵⁄₄₅ in favor of a death verdict.

Related Sources:
-Good overview of penalty phase trial: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/us/bos....html?_r=0
-Prejean testimony piece: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/boston-...ry-n357071

[Jimbone]

If I had to place odds, I'd say ⁵⁵⁄₄₅ in favor of a death verdict.

Now if you can just give the odds on the best horse running the Preakness I'll be all set

Seriously though, if I were on the jury Prejean is someone I would likely not pay attention to when making my decision. She's clearly an anti-death penalty zealot, and I'd discount her as such.

I'd give far more weight to survivors and family who lost loved ones. I feel like it's their decision to make since they were the ones most affected.

[Duchess]

Seriously though, if I were on the jury Prejean is someone I would likely not pay attention to when making my decision. She's clearly an anti-death penalty zealot, and I'd discount her as such.

I felt just the opposite. Once they brought in that nun I thought it was all but assured that they will give him life.

It's always interesting to me the way many people can view the exact same thing and everyone comes to a different conclusion.

[Jimbone]

I think after guilt is decided my impartiality would probably go out the window. But what the hell do I know - I've never sat on a death penalty jury before... but I think that would be my calculus.

I'd really want to listen to what the people close to the victim have to say and what they want. I don't think people they put up for the convict at that point would matter to me.

[Duchess]

I don't think feeling guilt after the fact would matter to me. I'd be focused on the deed and making him pay for that. I have no forgiveness for those that do the kind of things that guy did. I don't tend to dwell on bs but I don't forgive & forget either.

[Jimbone]

I don't think feeling guilt after the fact would matter to me. I'd be focused on the deed and making him pay for that. I have no forgiveness for those that do the kind of things that guy did. I don't tend to dwell on bs but I don't forgive & forget either.

Oh, I meant after the person was found guilty and we were deciding life or death... I'd be impartial during the first part of the trial (deciding guilt or acquittal), but once someone was found guilty I think my impartiality would be gone.

During penalty it would be about what is required of a jury by law, and the opinions of those close to the victim if provided as testimony. Testimony from the convicts side - ala Prejean - wouldn't matter much to me.

Which is probably why I'd not get impanelled

[Duchess]

WSJ is reporting that a decision has been reached. Anyone have a theory on what he'll get?

[Midwest Spy]

For whatever reason, I don't think he'll get death.

I think the fact that the older brother has already been killed will have something to do with that.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think he'll get death, but would no longer be surprised if he doesn't.

[Jimbone]

I think death as well.

[Duchess]

I'm leaning towards death now. The pix & testimony horrified the jury. They got up close and personal with the destruction he played a role in and I think it moved them.

[ramseycat]

Death.

[Midwest Spy]

Leaning towards death.

lol

[Duchess]

Death by lethal injection.

[HairOfTheDog]

The jury gave him Life on many of the counts.

They voted for Death on the ones related to use of a weapon of mass destruction.

So, on the charges related to the intentional murder of the 3 victims at the Marathon, the death sentence was handed down. But, for the murder of Officer Collier after the Marathon, Tsarnaev was instead given a life sentence.

Even if the jury had only given him death on one of the counts, he'd be going to death row. But, the fact that there were several death sentences handed down for a specific rationale makes a successful appeal by the Defense less likely.

I heard a report on HLN that only three of the jurors believed the Defense's claim that Dzhokhar's was acting under the heavy influence of his older brother when he committed the crimes.

[Duchess]

It's been 3 yrs. since the bombing. Whoosh. Time flew.

I remember this young man, Jeff Bauman & the guy in the cowboy hat, Carlos Arredondos.

Today Jeff, along with Jake Gyllenhaal who is carrying Jeff's little girl, threw out the first ball at a Red Sox game. Jeff's wife was running the Boston Marathon. Jake is going to play Jeff in a biopic that is going to be made.

The girl is another person who lost her leg that day. She's a dancer and she just ran the marathon. There are a bunch of awesome stories about those who have endured & succeeded since then.

I feel sad & mad all over again when I see pix from that day.

[blueberryhill]

It's been 3 yrs. since the bombing. Whoosh. Time flew.

I remember this young man, Jeff Bauman & the guy in the cowboy hat, Carlos Arredondos.

Today Jeff, along with Jake Gyllenhaal who is carrying Jeff's little girl, threw out the first ball at a Red Sox game. Jeff's wife was running the Boston Marathon. Jake is going to play Jeff in a biopic that is going to be made.

The girl is another person who lost her leg that day. She's a dancer and she just ran the marathon. There are a bunch of awesome stories about those who have endured & succeeded since then.

I feel sad & mad all over again when I see pix from that day.

If I am not mistaken, I recently read where a young lady who had lost her leg in the Boston bombing was visiting, I think, in Australia, and died in an auto accident. I should have looked it up before I spoke, I guess, but I was shocked when I read it....