Victims address Tsarnaev at formal sentencing
By Alexandra Cowley
acowley@abc6.com
Dzhokar Tsarnaev’s death sentence was made official Wednesday, as victims and family members addressed him with personal and emotional accounts of what they experienced the day of the bombings.
It was a powerful day for the 24 victims, though many expressed how difficult it was to speak in court, looking Tsarnaev directly in the eye.
The father of bombing survivor, Mark Fucarile, was one of those people.
“It hurts. As a family… it isn’t perfect. Nothing is perfect. Our son’s still alive. It’s different. We’ll continue our lives,” said Ed Fucarile.
Liz Norden, the mother of two sons who each lost a leg in the bombings, says she feels relieved today is over. “A weight has been lifted off our shoulders and I honestly can say… my sons will be happen that I found out what I needed to find, and I think we can really close a chapter.”
Some of the most powerful survivor statements today came from Heather Abbott and Rebekah Gregory.
Gregory was defiant when addressing Tsarnaev, telling him repeatedly he did not win, “We’re
Saying in part: “I wondered as I heard each one of us tell our stories of pain and agony on the witness stand if he considered them success stories. I would like Tsarnaev to know hat he did not break me. It is I and the other survivors who will be remembered for our resilience.”
After today’s sentencing, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz spoke outside, talking about how proud she is of the victims and their strength.
“I have been so touched and so moved and inspired by their strength, their courage, and their resiliency. That courtroom today felt proud not just to be a Bostonian but also to be an American,” said Ortiz.
© WLNE-TV 2015
