Trial of Boston marathon bombing suspect's friend underway

BOSTON - Opening statements are underway in the federal trial of a friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Robel Phillipos is accused of lying to authorities about being in Tsarnaev's dorm room when two other friends removed Tsarnaev's backpack, laptop and other potential evidence three days after the deadly attack.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Capin gave the first opening statement to the jury Monday in U.S. District Court. He told the jurors Phillipos saw the other two men take the backpack out of Tsarnaev's dorm room, but lied about it.

Twin bombs placed near the marathon's finish line killed three people and injured more than 260. Tsarnaev is awaiting trial on 30 federal charges.

Lawyers for Phillipos say he was a frightened 19-year-old when he was questioned, and did not intend to mislead investigators.