Prosecutor: Tsarnaev Wanted To Punish America
BOSTON (CBS) - Prosecutors wasted no time Monday in the Boston Marathon bombing trial. They started their closing arguments by telling jurors Dzhokhar Tsarnaev targeted Patriot's Day, 2013 because he wanted the world to watch him call his fellow holy warriors to battle.
"He chose a day when there would be civilians on the sidewalks because he wanted to make a point," Assistant US Attorney Aloke Chakravarty told jurors. "He wanted to punish America."
Chakravarty also told the jury that Tsarnaev and his brother acted together as "partners in crime." And when the plans went south, Chakravarty said Dzhokhar scrawled his infamous boat note.
"He chose to justify what he did, but even after writing those words ... he still was angry, he said. "He was negotiating the terms of death with America."
Prosecutors said Dzhokhar chose his backpack's location carefully at the marathon finish line, as they showed jurors a photo of the younger Tsarnaev standing behind eight year old Martin Richard and his family.
"There is nothing about this day that was a twist of fate," Chakravarty offered. "This was a cold, calculated terrorist attack. It was bloodthirsty."
The defense's closing argument echoed its opening from a month ago, attorney Judy Clarke, saying "There is no excuse. No one is trying to make one. Planting bombs at the Boston Marathon...was a senseless act."
But she was clear - over and over again - the bombings and the disasters that came after happened only because Tamerlan Tsarnaev led the way. "Dzhokhar's actions? Inexcusable," Clarke told jurors.
"Let's be honest about what the evidence actually shows," she continued. "We are not asking you to excuse the conduct."
Clarke said Tamerlan's fingerprints alone are on the bombs and materials for a reason.
"We need to understand who was leading and who was following."
Jurors begin their deliberations Tuesday morning.