Red Bluff Daily News

May 16, 2015

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ByDeniseLavoie The Associated Press BOSTON Ajurysentenced Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death Friday for the Boston Marathon bombing, sweep- ing aside pleas that he was just a "kid" who fell under the influence of his fanati- cal older brother. Tsarnaev, 21, stood with his hands folded, his head slightly bowed, upon learn- ing his fate, decided after 14 hours of deliberations over three days. It was the most closely watched ter- rorism trial in the U.S. since the Oklahoma City bombing case two decades ago. The decision sets the stage for what could be the nation's first execution of a terrorist in the post-9/11 era, though the case is likely to go through years of ap- peals. The execution would be carried out by lethal in- jection. "Now he will go away and we will be able to move on. Justice. In his own words, 'an eye for an eye,'" said bombing victim Sydney Corcoran, who nearly bled to death and whose mother lost both legs. Three people were killed and more than 260 wounded when Tsarnaev and his brother set off two shrapnel-packed pressure- cooker bombs near the fin- ish line of the race on April 15, 2013. The Tsarnaevs also shot an MIT police officer to death during their get- away. The 12-member federal jury had to be unanimous for Tsarnaev to get the death penalty. Otherwise, the former college student would have automatically received a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole. In weighing the argu- ments for and against death, the jurors decided, among other things, that Tsarnaev showed a lack of remorse. And they emphat- ically rejected the defense's central argument — that he was led down the path of terrorism by his big brother. "Today the jury has spo- ken. Dzhokhar Tsrnaev will pay for his crimes with his life," said U.S. Attorney Car- men Ortiz. Tsarnaev's father, An- zor Tsarnaev, reached by phone by the Associated Press in the Russian region of Dagestan, let out a deep moan upon hearing the news and hung up. Tsarnaev's lawyers had no comment as they left the courtroom. The attack and the ensu- ing manhunt paralyzed the city for days and cast a pall over the marathon — nor- mally one of Boston's proud- est, most exciting moments — that has yet to be lifted. With Friday's decision, community leaders and oth- ers talked of closure, of Bos- ton's resilience, of its Bos- ton Strong spirit. In a statement, Attor- ney General Loretta Lynch called the bombing a "cow- ardly attack" and added: "The ultimate penalty is a fitting punishment for this horrific crime, and we hope that the completion of this prosecution will bring some measure of closure to the victims and their families." Tsarnaev was convicted last month of all 30 charges against him, including use of a weapon of mass de- struction. Seventeen of those charges carried the possibility of a death sen- tence. Tsarnaev's chief law- yer, death penalty special- ist Judy Clarke, admitted at the very start of the trial that he participated in the bombings, bluntly telling the jury: "It was him." But the defense argued that Dzhokhar was an im- pressionable 19-year-old who was led astray by his volatile and domineering 26-year-old brother, Tamer- lan, who was portrayed as the mastermind of the plot to punish the U.S. for its wars in Muslim countries. Tamerlan died days after the bombing when he was shot by police and run over by Dzhokhar during a cha- otic getaway attempt. Prosecutors depicted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as an equal partner in the at- tack, saying he was so cold- hearted he planted a bomb on the pavement behind a group of children, killing an 8-year-old boy. To drive home their point, prosecutors cited the message he scrawled in the dry-docked boat where he was captured: "Stop killing our innocent people and we will stop." And they opened their case in the penalty phase with a startling photo of him giving the finger to a security camera in his jail cell months after his arrest. "This is Dzhokhar Tsar- naev —unconcerned, unre- pentant and unchanged," prosecutor Nadine Pel- legrin said. The jurors also heard grisly and heartbreaking testimony from numer- ous bombing survivors who described seeing their legs blown off or watching someone next to them die. Killed in the bombing were Lingzi Lu, a 23-year- old Boston University graduate student from China; Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant manager from Medford; and 8-year-old Martin Rich- ard, who had gone to watch the marathon with his fam- ily. Massachusetts Institute of Technology police Offi- cer Sean Collier was shot to death in his cruiser days later. Seventeen people lost legs in the bombings. VERDICT JuryordersdeathforBostonMarathonbomber JANEFLAVELLCOLLINSVIAAP In this Thursday courtroom sketch, Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sits in federal court in Boston for a final hearing. ELISE AMENDOLA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Boston Marathon bombing survivor Marc Fucarile wheels himself while talking with rescuer Carlos Arredondo, le , during the Boston Marathon Tribute Run in Boston in April. FAMILY PHOTOS VIA AP This combination of photos shows, from le , Martin Richard, 8, Krystle Campbell, 29, and Lingzi Lu. Richard, Campbell and Lu were killed in the two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. CHARLES KRUPA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Boston Police commissioner William Evans addresses the media a er the verdict in the penalty phase of the trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Friday. By Nedra Pickler The Associated Press WASHINGTON With police under increasing scrutiny after the highly publicized deaths of black suspects, President Barack Obama called on Americans Fri- day to honor law enforce- ment "heroes" by working harder to heal rifts with communities they serve. Obama offered his grati- tude for the sacrifices of po- lice during an annual me- morial service for fallen police on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. He said the law enforcement deaths are a too common reminder that of the risk inherent in their jobs. "We cannot erase every darkness or danger from the duty that you've cho- sen," he said. "We can offer you the support you need to be safe. We can make the communities you care about and protect safer as well. We can make sure that you have the resources you need to do your job. We can do every- thing we have to do to com- bat the poverty that plagues too many communities in which you have served. We can work harder as a nation to heal rifts that exist some places between law enforce- ment and the people you risk your lives to protect." Obama did not mention any of the black men who died recently after police in- teractions, triggering a se- ries of racially-charged pro- tests across the country. In- stead, the president spoke of some of the 131 officers who died last year in the line of duty. He singled out Travis County senior deputy Jes- sica Hollis, who was swept away by Texas floodwaters. And he spoke of Officer Kevin Jordan of the Griffin County, Georgia, who was shot while working as an off-duty security guard at a Waffle House. "We hold them up as he- roes because that's what they are," Obama said. "It takes a special kind of cour- age to be a police officer." LAW ENFORCEMENT Obama calls for healing of ri s between police, communities PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Barack Obama walks toward the memorial wreath before placing a flower on it during a ceremony for 34th annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service, honoring law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, on Capitol Hill in Washington. 10DamonAve.,RedBluff 530-527-3262 • www.tuscanpools.com TuscanPoolSupply 50lb.ClearviewTabs on SALE $ $ 140 14 0 .00 .00 thru end of June OPEN YEAR ROUND www.tehamafamilyfitness.com Tehama Family Fitness Center 2498SouthMainSt.RedBluff 528-8656 ACoupleOfLosersWeight Loss Competition Needtolosesomeweight?Haveafriendorfamily member that would also like to lose a few pounds? Well we've got a contest designed just for you! "A Couple of Losers" is a partner weight loss competition based on your team efforts! Your success will be based on the total percentage of weight lost by and your partner combined! 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