THE penalty phase in the trial of Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev begins today. But yesterday the city was determined to show the world that it was strong as runners and spectators shrugged off the rain at this year's marathon.
Lawyers for 21-year-old Tsarnaev, right, admitted during their opening statements that he participated in the 2013 attack that killed three people, including eight-year-old Martin Richards, 23-year-old Lingzi Lu, and Krystle Campbell (29). More than 260 people were injured in the bombing, many of whom lost limbs. Martin's parents and some of those injured have urged the US justice department not to pursue the death penalty.
The state of Massachusetts abolished the death penalty more than 30 years ago, but Tsarnaev is charged under the federal death penalty statute. During the penalty phase, the defense will continue to portray Tsarnaev's brother, Tamerlan (26), as a domineering follower of radical Islam who convinced his then 19-year-old brother that America had to be punished for its wars in Muslim countries. Tamerlan died four days after the bombings when he was shot during a firefight with police and run over by Dzhokhar during a getaway attempt.
If even one juror votes against the death penalty, Tsarnaev will get a life sentence