'It was him' Boston bomber's lawyers admit guilt
Updated: 2015-03-05 17:43
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
'Soldier in a holy war'
In his argument, Weinreb said that Dzhokhar had read radical online magazines, where he learned how to build the shrapnel-filled bombs that tore the legs off of about 16 people at the race's crowded finish line.
"He believed that he was a soldier in a holy war against Americans," Weinreb said of Tsarnaev.
The prosecutor also stressed the brutal nature of the injuries caused by the pressure-cooker bombs.
"The purpose of that kind of bomb is to shred flesh, shatter bone, set people on fire and cause people to suffer painful deaths," said Weinreb. He described the painful final moments of the three who died: restaurant manager Krystle Campbell, 29; graduate student Lingzi Lu, 23, and Martin Richard, 8.
He noted that Tsarnaev left the backpack he carried the bomb in behind a group of child spectators, including Martin.
"He pretended to be a spectator but he had murder in his heart," Weinreb said.
The prosecutor also described in detail how Dzhokhar Tsarnaev killed his brother following a gunbattle with police in the Boston suburb of Watertown, while the two were trying to flee.
"The defendant rolled right over his brother and dragged his body about 50 feet (15 meters) down the street," Weinreb said. The defendant had been trying to run down the police officers who were attempting to arrest the pair.
A dozen or so people injured in the attack and family members, including dancer Heather Abbott and Marc Fucarile, both of whom lost legs in the blasts, and Richard's parents, sat quietly in court during the proceedings.
The jury saw several videos of the bombs going off and of badly injured people screaming on the ground, surrounded by bits of metal shrapnel and thick smoke.
"I was blown through the air. There was a deafening explosion," said Colton Kilgore, who had traveled from Asheville, North Carolina, to see his mother-in-law race. "As I was sitting up my brain was in this haze and I couldn't hear out of my left ear and there was screaming and I realized ... it must have been a bomb."
Related Stories
Accused Boston bomber's lawyers challenge jury-selection process 2015-02-27 10:18
Doctor shot inside a Boston hospital, gunman killed himself 2015-01-21 09:48
Boston opens 'oldest' US time capsule from1795 2015-01-08 07:56
Jury selection begins in trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber 2015-01-04 21:17
Boston opens 'oldest' US time capsule from1795 2015-01-08 07:56
New arrest linked to gun used after Boston attacks 2014-07-23 10:27
Today's Top News
China lowers annual GDP growth target to 7%
China faces 'formidable challenges'
Diplomats talk about 'two sessions'
US ambassador to S.Korea attacked
Belgian royal couple to visit China
China faces 'formidable challenges', says Li
China's defense budget to rise about 10%
Pact with EU set to be concluded
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |
Conca set to return to China |
CES: Spotlight on Chinese gadgets |
Yearender: What happened around the globe in 2014 |