The Tsarnaev Trial has been one of the most media covered trials in recent history. On Wednesday, Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty on all counts, some carrying the death penalty.
In 2013, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, and his older brother detonated pressure cooker bombs at the finish line of the annual Boston marathon, killing 3 and injuring 260. The older brother was killed while fleeing, and the younger Tsarnaev was caught. Two years later, Tsarnaev has been found guilty of all 30 of his charges, 17 of which carry the possibility of the death penalty.
The Tsarnaev trial’s defense framed the older brother as the primary instigator, with Tsarnaev more or less following along with the older brother’s plan, with prosecutors saying Tsarnaev performed the attack in a “heinous, cruel, and deprived manner”. A jury of 12 deliberated for two days, then announced their verdict.
The Tsarnaev trial now moves into the penalty phase, in which the jury will decide if Tsarnaev will be executed. Much of the focus of the Tsarnaev trial has been to provide closure for those affected by the attack. Boston Mayor Martian Walsh expressed the sentiment, saying in a statement “I hope today’s verdict provides a small amount of closure.” The family of Sean Collier, an MIT police officer killed after the bombing by the Tsarnaev brothers, said “While today’s verdict can never bring Sean back, we are thankful that Dzhokar Tsarnaev will be held accountable for the evil that he brought to so many families.”
The Boston Marathon is currently in its 119th year, the latest competition happening April 20. Apprehension naturally came with the 118th marathon last year, bolstering police patrols. Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivary noted for the 118th marathon, “I believe this will be the safest place on the planet on April 21.” A scare happened that day when Kevin Edson, 25, brought a rice cooker to the Boston Marathon finish line in his backpack in a hoax attempt to set it off in the way the Tsarnaev brothers did.
The 119th Boston Marathon is planned to go ahead on April 20, 2015, with no reports of being shut down or of credible threats, hopefully meaning that this year’s Boston Marathon will be a safe place to travel to.
A homage to running as a spiritual journey:
https://youtu.be/42mReYswQbY
