Boston bombing trial opens with jury selection
January 05, 2015 22:38
The long-awaited trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev began today with jury selection, 20 months after the devastating attack that killed three at the city's signature race.
Tsarnaev, a 21-year-old Muslim of Chechen origin, faces the death penalty if convicted in federal court for what was the worst act of terror on US soil since the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Dressed in a dark pullover and light pants and with a shock of tangled hair and small beard, Tsarnaev appeared opposite a first group of 200 to 250 potential jurors as US District Judge George O'Toole briefly reviewed the charges against him.
"What you need is a commitment to justice," O'Toole advised the jurors.
Tsarnaev -- flanked by his defense team -- has pleaded not guilty to the 30 charges, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction leading to death, and carrying out an attack in a public place.
With his older brother Tamerlan, Tsarnaev is alleged to have set the bombs, which exploded 12 seconds apart on April 15, 2013, ripping through crowds gathered near the finish line as the race was ending.
More than 260 people were wounded. Several people lost limbs when the pressure-cooker bombs -- packed with nails and other shrapnel -- exploded.
Tamerlan was killed in a confrontation with police days after the attacks.
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