Finish Line

More than a month after the jury returned a verdict of death for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, all the raw wounds were ripped open again, with victim impact statements. And we were once again reminded of the pain and suffering caused by Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan. Today, Judge George O’Toole officially carried out the jury’s verdict, a verdict he couldn’t change, and sentenced Tsarnaev to death by execution. But before the judge did that, we heard from Dzhokhar himself, who asked Allah for forgiveness. …

Two years and a month after bombs exploded on the Boston Marathon finish line, becoming the biggest terrorist attack in America since 9/ll, a federal jury delivered a verdict of death to the convicted bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. After more than 4 months of trial, 154 witnesses, and no more than 15 hours of deliberations, jurors chose not life in prison without the possibility of parole, but six sentences of death. In the final episode until official sentencing, Boeri and Cullen look back over the entire trial, and look ahead to what's next …

The death penalty. That's what 12 jurors quickly and unanimously decided is the just punishment for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for his role in the Boston Marathon bombings. The verdict appears a rejection of the defense's case that Tsarnaev was brainwashed by his radicalized older brother Tamerlan, or the assertion he is remorseful for what he did. Boeri and Cullen discuss the tense day in court.

The fate of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev--his life or death--is now in the hands of 12 jurors. In Day 31, the jury began deliberating, after hearing closing statements. Boeri and Cullen cover the defense's closing, which continued to hammer home that Dzhokhar's older brother Tamerlan was the lead on the attacks, and that a life sentence for Tsarnaev would serve as both "justice and mercy." And they discuss the government's closing, which said Tsarnaev's actions--the killing of four and the maiming of dozens more--have earned him death.

For the first time in this federal death penalty case the jury got some insight into what Dzhokhar Tsarnaev thought of his Boston Marathon bombing victims. "No one deserves to suffer like they did," Tsarnaev said to Sister Helen Prejean, a prominent opponent of the death penalty, according to her testimony. Prejean revealed that she has met with the defendant five times while he has been in detention. In Day 30, Boeri and Cullen discuss Sister Prejean's testimony, the end of the defense's case in the penalty phase, and the …

It was an early day for jurors in the federal death penalty case of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. In Day 29, Boeri and Cullen cover the testimony of a former prison warden and the reason why court ended early--the possible testimony of Sister Helen Prejean, a prominent opponent of capital punishment.

The defense for convicted Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has started to wrap up its case, tying up lose ends in the sentencing phase of the federal death penalty trial against him. Today, in Day 28, Boeri and Cullen discuss the testimony from a relative in Kazakhstan, adolescent brain development, and the supermax prison where--if spared the death penalty--Tsarnaev could spend the rest of his life.

The defense for convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been presenting the jury with a social history of his family. Today, in Day 27, the defense turned the focus to their ethnic homeland of Chechnya. Boeri and Cullen discuss how the long history of the Chechen people influenced the psychiatric well-being of Dzhokhar's father, and how his older brother Tamerlan became unhinged and abusive.

All throughout the federal death penalty trial of convicted Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, a key question has been: Will the defense succeed in making him into a sympathetic figure, and in doing so perhaps save his life? After months of sobering testimony, and virtually no sign of emotion or remorse from the defendant, that seemed like an impossible challenge. Boeri and Cullen discuss Day 26, in which that changed and Dzhokhar was moved to tears for the first time, just by seeing and hearing the testimony of some of …

In the days after the FBI identified Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan as suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings, there was a near universal reaction from anyone who had known Dzhokhar -- shock and disbelief -- saying it couldn't be. In Day 25 of the trial against Tsarnaev, Boeri and Cullen discuss an emotional day as the jury finally heard stories from former friends and teachers, painting a picture of a good kid -- lost -- and under the spell of his radicalized older brother.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sat expressionless and nearly motionless next to his attorneys, just as he has done during every other day of the federal death penalty case against him. But listening to his defense team, it seemed like he wasn't even in the room, let alone the person on trial. In Day 24, Boeri and Cullen discuss the second day of defense testimony in the penalty phase, which was all about Tamerlan -- Dzhokhar's older, now dead brother -- and his wife Katherine.

"We've now seen more pain, and more horror, and more grief in this courtroom than any of you would have thought possible." That’s how attorneys today for convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev opened as they began their defense in the sentencing phase of the trial against him. In Day 23, Boeri and Cullen discuss the defense's goal to shift the focus--from all that pain and horror--to putting Tsarnaev’s crimes into context and convincing just one juror that he should serve life in prison over death.

Three days into the sentencing phase in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the government has rested its case. In Day 22, Boeri and Cullen discuss the prosecution's decision to end on a chilling but moving story from a father who lost a leg in the marathon bombings, and who witnessed the final moments of eight-year-old Martin Richard's life.

In the second day of the penalty phase in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the jury listened to bittersweet memories shared by family members whose loved ones died at the hands of the Tsarnaev brothers. It all built on the government's case that Tsarnaev's crimes were heinous, cruel, and depraved, and thus warrant the death penalty. In Day 21, Boeri and Cullen discuss that devastating testimony, and the defense's entry of new video evidence - which called into question the meaning behind a shocking image introduced by the prosecution, showing …

At the start of the second phase in the trial against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the prosecution began to make the case that he deserves the death penalty. In Day 20, Boeri and Cullen discuss the opening statements, the powerful victim testimony, and the effect of some victims publicly calling for life in prison over death might have on the case.

Two years ago today, two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street, killing three and injuring more than 260 others. Last week, the jury found Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty on all 30 charges against him. On the anniversary of the bombing, the trial is on a break between the guilt and sentencing phases, and Boeri and Cullen look ahead to what we can expect next.

It comes as no surprise that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been found guilty of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. After 11 hours of deliberations over two days, the jurors found Tsarnaev guilty on all 30 counts against him, and many more sub-counts. Boeri and Cullen react to the verdict and look ahead to what's coming: the decision on whether Tsarnaev should be punished by death.

Twelve jurors, selected from a pool of more than 1,300, were sequestered in a room today to review the 30 charges against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. In Day 18, the first full day of deliberations in the guilt phase, Boeri and Cullen discuss who the jurors are, and how their life experiences and perspectives might affect Tsarnaev's fate in this death penalty trial.

The guilt of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is now in the hands of a jury. After 16 days of testimony, 95 witnesses and piles of evidence, the 12 jurors will now deliberate on the 30 charges against him. On Day 17, Boeri and Cullen discuss the closing statements by the prosecution and the defense. The government closed with a highlight reel of graphic images from the bombing. And the defense closed by acting as if they were the prosecutors of Dzhokhar's dead older brother, Tamerlan.

After 15 days of testimony from witnesses for the prosecution, attorneys for admitted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev began to present their case yesterday afternoon. A day and two hours later, the defense rests, having called just four witnesses to the stand. Boeri and Cullen discuss Day 16 and the defense's limited focus in this phase of the trial - on portraying Dzhokhar as following the lead of his older brother Tamerlan.