Marathon Bombing Suspect Wants Some Charges Dismissed
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has scheduled a hearing on a request by lawyers for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to dismiss some of the charges he faces.
U.S. District Judge George O'Toole Jr. said in an electronic notice Wednesday that he will also hear a defense request to lift special restrictions placed on Tsarnaev while he awaits trial.
Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to a 30-count indictment charging him in the explosions at last year's marathon that killed three people and injured more than 260.
His lawyers say many of the charges are redundant and could sway jurors weighing whether to find him guilty and whether to sentence him to death. More than half the charges carry the possibility of the death penalty.
O'Toole scheduled a hearing for April 16.
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