Hes accused of plotting with his brother and carrying out an attack near the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed three people, wounded more than 260 and spurred a massive manhunt that terrorized the city for days. And now, nearly 19 months after the bombings, Dzhokhar Tsarnaevs trial is starting. Here are 13 things to keep in mind as the proceedings get under way this week at the federal courthouse in Boston: 1. Its going to take time to pick a jury. Lawyers have more than 1,000 people to choose from. About 1,200 potential jurors have been summoned, CNN affiliate WCVB reported. The prosecution and defense will have to pare down that pool to 12 jurors and six alternates. Prosecutors have said the trial could last up to four months. 2. We already have some clues about the arguments on both sides. Court documents filed so far by the defense and prosecution paint a pretty clear picture of where things are heading -- though their portrayals of Tsarnaev, 21, are dramatically different. Prosecutors cast him as a deliberate killer inspired by jihadist literature. The defense has tried to pin the blame on Tamerlan Tsarnaev, describing Dzhokhar as a youngster manipulated by his older brother, who was an all-powerful force who could not be ignored or disobeyed. Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was killed in a confrontation with police days after the bombing. Police surrounded Dzhokhar Tsarnaev two days later as he hid inside a boat in a backyard in Watertown, Massachusetts. He surrendered with rifle lasers tagging his head.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 07:29:09 +0000
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