Defense urges for life sentence for Tsarnaev
By Samantha Lavien
Defense Attorney’s for convicted marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, have begun their fight for the 21-year-old’s life as they began presenting their case in the penalty phase of his trial.
Opening statements were delivered Monday morning. Several witnesses, including the mother of Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s wife, took the stand.
Judith Russell, the mother of Katherine Russell, cried as she testified about the moment she realized Tamerlan and his brother were behind the 2013 marathon bombings and subsequent attacks.
Russell says she called the FBI and told them who the brothers were and where they lived.
Russell says she did not want her daughter Katherine to be with the elder Tsarnaev, and explained how it difficult it was to get to know him. She also explained how her daughter became very religious after meeting Tamerlan.
Earlier in the day, Defense Attorney David Bruck asked jurors to sentence Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to life in prison.
Bruck told jurors the 21-year-old was a good kid who was heavily influenced by Tamerlan. He explained to jurors that it was Tamleran that led the plot for the attacks, and that Tamerlan provided the “fuel” to drive the plan.
The defense reminded the jury that they are never obligated to choose the death penalty. He showed photos of the Supermax facility in Colorado where the 21-year-old would be sent.
Bruck said no punishment is equal to the suffering that the victims endured, but “a lifetime in prison to face what he has done is the better choice for everyone.”
Most of the witnesses called Monday focused considerably more on Tamerlan than Dzhokhar.
Though we know that members of the Tsarnaev family are in town, so far none have been called or spotted in the courtroom.
© WLNE-TV 2015
