Tamerlan Tsarnaev's Computer Records Scrutinized In Bombing Trial
BOSTON (CBS) - A casual observer would be forgiven for thinking it was Tamerlan Tsarnaev who was on trial this week, rather than his younger brother.
The older Tsarnaev's computer records were scrutinized at length Tuesday as Dzhokhar's defense team looked to show the jury how it was Tamerlan, not their client, who downloaded and shared the majority of the anti-western and pro-jihadi materials that would later be found in both brothers' computers.
From Tamerlan's computer, the defense pulled bizarre images, like one of an unnamed toddler, holding a large rifle - a photo apparently taken with Tamerlan's camera phone.
In another photo, jurors saw Tamerlan, having grown his beard and changed his style of dress - likely around 2012 - and holding a weapon.
Tamerlan's wife Katherine was also under the spotlight for the second day in a row. A computer with her name on it showed evidence of searches in January, 2012 for "Rewards for wife of mujahideen" and "If your husband becomes a shaheed, what are the rewards for you?"
Tamerlan was also a fairly successful boxer, and several men who knew and worked with him then also took the stand.
Tamerlan, the jury learned, grew his beard and changed how he dressed the more and more he turned to his Islamic faith.
When it came time to cross examine many of Tuesday's witnesses, the government largely asked them all the same thing: did you know Tamerlan's younger brother, Dzhokhar? The answer was often no and the prosecutors had no further questions.