Tsarnaev Appears in Court for Jury Selection in Boston Bombing Trial

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev appeared in court before the first batch of some 1,200 prospective jurors who were summoned to the US District Court in Boston. The judge and lawyers will eventually choose 12 jurors to hear evidence in a trial that could last as long as five months.

NEW YORK, January 5 (Sputnik) — Dzhokhar Tsarnaev accused of carrying out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, that killed three people and wounded more than 260, appeared in court on Monday for a jury selection process at the start of his trial.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, faces the death penalty if convicted in federal court in Boston for detonating two homemade bombs in a throng of spectators at the race’s finish line on April 15, 2013.

He was arrested four days after the bombing. His brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, also a suspect in the blasts, was killed during a shootout with police.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev appeared in court before the first batch of some 1,200 prospective jurors who were summoned to the US District Court in Boston. Judge George O'Toole and lawyers will eventually choose 12 jurors to hear evidence in a trial that could last as long as five months.

Previously, Tsarnaev’s lawyers asked to dismiss the indictment in light of irregularities in the grand jury selection process, naming age and race of potential jurors as points of concern.

Media reports also suggested that lawyers would attempt to move proceedings from Boston to another city in the United States to ensure greater fairness in the trial, as Tsarnaev’s lawyers were concerned over an emotionally charged atmosphere in Boston might have an impact on the process.

Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to all 30 charges against him for his role in the attack.