Bomber’s lawyer says he was a ‘good kid’
BOSTON – Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s lawyers urged a jury Monday to spare his life, portraying him as “a good kid” who was led down the path to terrorism by his increasingly fanatical older brother.
David Bruck delivered the defense’s opening statement in the penalty phase of Tsarnaev’s trial, saying there is no punishment Tsarnaev can get that would be equal to the suffering of the victims.
“There is no evening the scales,” Bruck said. “There is no point in trying to hurt him as he hurt because it can’t be done.”
Tsarnaev, 21, was convicted of 30 federal charges in the twin bombings that killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 other people near the marathon’s finish line April 15, 2013. He was also found guilty of killing an MIT police officer during the Tsarnaev brothers’ getaway attempt.
This stage of the trial will determine whether he is executed or spends the rest of his life behind bars.
Loretta Lynch sworn in as attorney general
WASHINGTON – Loretta Lynch was sworn in Monday as the 83rd U.S. attorney general, the first African-American woman to serve as the nation’s top law-enforcement official.
Speaking before family members, Justice Department lawyers and supporters, Lynch said her confirmation as attorney general showed that “we can do anything” and pledged that the agency would “use justice as our compass” in confronting terrorism, cyberattacks and other threats facing the country.
The 55-year-old Lynch was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday. She replaces Eric Holder, who left the position Friday after serving for six years.
Associated Press
