Trump Blasts 'Disgraceful Legal System' As Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's Lawyers Say Fair Trial Rights Violated
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Attorneys trying to overturn the death sentence of convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev say in a new court filing that the 2013 explosions so traumatized the region that it was impossible to get an impartial jury.
Tsarnaev's lawyers say his rights to a fair trial were violated because the jury that voted to sentence Tsarnaev to death was from drawn from a pool of people, nearly all of whom were familiar with the broad details of the attack.
They also say 69% of the jury pool believed Tsarnaev was guilty.
President Donald Trump weighed in on the news Friday.
"What a disgraceful legal system for this guy to still be around after all of these years," he tweeted. "A vicious killer who destroyed so many great people & families!"
Tsarnaev was convicted of carrying out the April 15, 2013, attack with his older brother, who was killed by authorities. He is appealing the death sentence.
Prosecutors maintain an impartial jury was carefully selected.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)