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Two years after the Boston Marathon tragedy, a jury in Boston — after deliberating for little more than a day — has found 21-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty on all counts related to the worst act of terror in the United States since 9-11.
The jury convicted Tsarnaev on all charges, ranging from carjacking to using a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. Tsarnaev was found guilty in the deaths of Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu and 8-year-old Martin Richard during the bombings as well as for the death MIT police officer Sean Collier during a shootout that ensued after the bombings. Seventeen of the 30 counts can carry the death penalty.
The only question that remains now is whether this mass murderer will live or die, as the trial moves to the next phase: the penalty phase.
According to USA TODAY, “the real trial is about to begin…” “Judge George O’Toole said the sentencing hearing will begin early next week, but he didn’t specify a day. At issue: Will Tsarnaev be executed or serve life in prison without parole?”
Whether Tsarnaev lives or dies, one thing is certain: “Boston Strong” will live on.
Lead photo: Marcio Jose Bastos Silva / Shutterstock.com
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.