According to Attorney General Eric Holder, federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev upon conviction. Authorities allege that Tsarnaev and his brother placed two pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the marathon, killing 3 individuals and injuring 264, at least 16 of which lost limbs. Tsarnaev plead not guilty to 30 federal charges related to the Boston bombings on April 15th, 2013, including the charge of killing MIT police officer Sean A. Collier during the attempted getaway 3 days later. Tsarnaev's would be co-defendant, older brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev was shot and killed by authorities during the initial manhunt.
Holder said in a statement: "After consideration of the relevant facts, the applicable regulations and the submissions made by the defendant's counsel, I have determined that the United States will seek the death penalty in this matter. The nature of the conduct at issue and the resultant harm compel this decision."
More specifically, prosecutors cite Tsarnaev's "lack of remorse" at the allegations, particularly of killing an 8 year old boy. They also said Tsarnaev committed the crimes after "substantial planning and premeditation." U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz filed a notice stating Tsarnaev's "betrayal" of his decade long American citizenship:
"Tsarnaev received asylum from the United States; obtained citizenship and enjoyed the freedoms of a United States citizen; and then betrayed his allegiance to the United States by killing and maiming people in the United States."
Tsarnaev was ultimately captured hiding in a boat parked in a yard in a Boston suburb. According to authorities, the suspect scribbled such statements as "The US Government is killing our innocent civilians" and "We Muslims are one body, you hurt one you hurt us all," on its walls. Tsarnaev is a Chechen from Russia.
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