Prosecutors are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the death sentence for Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed the jury's decision to sentence Tsarnaev to death. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling says they disagree with the First Circuit ruling, and hopes the high court reinstates the original sentence. Lelling said;
"Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is an ideologically driven mass killer who, with his brother, detonated at the finish line of the Boston Marathon two home-made bombs specifically designed to rip people apart, killing three – a young boy and two women – maiming seventeen, and injuring hundreds; shot a police officer three times in the head so they could steal his sidearm; and exchanged thousands of rounds with police officers in Watertown. I have heard, and respect, the voices calling for the Department to drop its pursuit of the death penalty in this case. But the severity of Tsarnaev’s crimes place him in that narrow category of criminals for whom death is a proportional punishment. Some have argued that executing Tsarnaev will not deter others from pursuing similar crimes. But, ultimately, this decision is not about deterrence. It is about justice.”
Lelling says a retrial of the death penalty phase will happen if the Supreme Court does not rule in their favor.
.(Photo Credit: Karyn Regal/WBZ NewsRadio)