BOSTON (AP) — Prosecutors and lawyers for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev have a final chance to make their case for life in prison or the death penalty.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday in U.S. District Court.
Prosecutors have portrayed Tsarnaev as a callous, unrepentant terrorist who carried out the deadly attack with his radicalized older brother, Tamerlan. They say he deserves the death penalty.
Tsarnaev’s lawyers admitted he participated in the bombings, but told the jury he was heavily influenced by Tamerlan, who wanted to punish the U.S. for its actions in Muslim countries. They’ve asked the jury to spare his life.
Three people were killed and more than 260 injured when two bombs exploded near the finish line in 2013.
Tsarnaev was convicted last month. The same jury must now decide his punishment.
