Grand jury returns 30-count indictment against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston Marathon bombings

[iandhr]

Source: WASHINGTON POST

BOSTON — A federal grand jury on Thursday returned a 30-count indictment against the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, and many of the charges carry the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was indicted on charges including using a weapon of mass destruction and bombing a place of public use, resulting in death.

Three people were killed and more than 260 injured in twin explosions near the finish line of the marathon on April 15. The charges also cover the death of MIT police officer Sean Collier, who authorities say was shot to death in his cruiser by the Tsarnaevs a few days after the bombing.

Tsarnaev’s older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was killed following a shootout with police on April 19.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/grand-jury-returns-30-count-indictment-against-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-in-boston-marathon-bombings/2013/06/27/76999b1c-df51-11e2-8cf3-35c1113cfcc5_story.html?wpisrc=al_national

[kestrel91316]

1. Good. Now convict his sorry a-- and lock him up for life.

[Dawson Leery]

2. The right wing bigots did not want this. They did not want the civilian court system to work.

[temmer]

3. Hmmmm? The probable cause hearing was set for 10th of July

has it been waived or what?

[onenote]

4. See article here

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/21/18399984-judge-agrees-to-delay-in-case-of-boston-bombing-suspect-dzhokar-tsarnaev?lite

[temmer]

5. that's what I mean

as far as I remember, the original probable cause hearing (May 19th) was delayed at the request of the prosecution. They allegedly needed more time to collect evidence. It was postponed until July 10th.

It is noteworthy that the prosecution doesn't need to have all their stuff together for a probable cause hearing. They only need to present sufficient evidence to convince the judge to forward the case to the Grand Jury. After that, the prosecutors have still enough time to collect evidence and make their case in the indictment.

Now all of a sudden the prosecution has obtained so much evidence that they forego the probable cause hearing!? Looks odd to me.

I'm looking forward to the trial.

[onenote]

6. as the article indicates, its actually a common result

Not odd at all.

[temmer]

7. the odd thing is

that the probable cause hearing on May 19th was cancelled and postponed, at the request of the prosecution.

No need to if the prosecution intended to issue the indictment within weeks anyway.

[temmer]

8. the more I think about it

did the prosecution cirvumvent the probable cause hearing because they were afraid the judge (Marianne Bowler) would dismiss the case? and instead chose to address the Grand Jury directly because Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is the most hated man in Boston and the jury already biased?

/speculation

[onenote]

9. The delay was based on a joint request by the prosecution and defense

Really no need for tin foil. This is standard practice. Google "probable cause hearing postponed" and see how often it happens.

[temmer]

10. where's the tin foil?

I'm just observing how the judicial process unfolds.

It's true that the May 19th date was delayed by a joint request. However, the initial movement came from the prosecution:

Prosecutors said last week that they needed more time to indict Tsarnaev than the 30-day period prescribed under federal law

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/21/boston-bombing-hearing_n_3314094.html

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. Excellent. nt