US prosecutors said Thursday they will look for capital punishment against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in the Boston Marathon bombing.
"Today, United States Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. authorized the government to seek the death penalty in the case of United States v. Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev. We support this decision and the trial team is prepared to move forward with the prosecution," U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said in a statement.
Prosecutors allege that Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan, ethnic Chechens from Russia who had lived in the Boston area for about a decade, planted two pressure cooker bombs near the finish line.
"Today, United States Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. authorized the government to seek the death penalty in the case of United States v. Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev. We support this decision and the trial team is prepared to move forward with the prosecution," U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said in a statement.
Prosecutors allege that Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan, ethnic Chechens from Russia who had lived in the Boston area for about a decade, planted two pressure cooker bombs near the finish line.
"While I understand the public interest in this matter, we have rules that limit the release of information and the scope of public statements. The process by which this decision was made is confidential, and I will not comment further about that process other than to say that it entailed a careful and detailed consideration of the particular facts and circumstances of this case," Ortiz said in the statement.
Seventeen of 30 charges against Tsarnaev convey the likelihood of capital punishment, incorporating utilizing a weapon of mass destruction to kill.
The 20-year-old Tsarnaev plead not guilty. No official trial date has been set.
Seventeen of 30 charges against Tsarnaev convey the likelihood of capital punishment, incorporating utilizing a weapon of mass destruction to kill.
The 20-year-old Tsarnaev plead not guilty. No official trial date has been set.
