Quotable: NECN – Trial Could Shed Light on Accused Boston Bomber’s Motives

Defense likely to try to show Dzhokhar Tsarnaev manipulated by brother

By Noreen O’Donnell

Twenty months after Dzhokhar Tsarnaev crawled out of a boat in a backyard in Watertown, Massachusetts, bloodied after a shoot-out with police that killed his older brother, the now 21-year-old suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings is to go on trial.

Jury selection in the federal death penalty case began Monday in Boston after the judge rejected repeated appeals from his lawyers to delay the trial and to move it elsewhere…

…Observers say the defense could be trying to show that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was so in thrall of his older brother that he had little choice but to participate in the bombings.

Brad Bailey, a criminal defense lawyer in Boston, said it appeared from court filings that Tsarnaev's lawyers were focused on possible mitigating factors that include emotional disturbance, potential diminished mental capacity, lack of criminal record and his youth.

"We've seen a lot of requests that suggest that they are trying to obtain evidence that would show that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was either afraid of his older brother and afraid not to do things that he may have been directed to do or that he was potentially brainwashed by his older brother," Bailey said

[For the full story visit: NECN.com]

By Noreen O’Donnell

Twenty months after Dzhokhar Tsarnaev crawled out of a boat in a backyard in Watertown, Massachusetts, bloodied after a shoot-out with police that killed his older brother, the now 21-year-old suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings is to go on trial.

Jury selection in the federal death penalty case began Monday in Boston after the judge rejected repeated appeals from his lawyers to delay the trial and to move it elsewhere…

…Observers say the defense could be trying to show that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was so in thrall of his older brother that he had little choice but to participate in the bombings.

Brad Bailey, a criminal defense lawyer in Boston, said it appeared from court filings that Tsarnaev's lawyers were focused on possible mitigating factors that include emotional disturbance, potential diminished mental capacity, lack of criminal record and his youth.

"We've seen a lot of requests that suggest that they are trying to obtain evidence that would show that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was either afraid of his older brother and afraid not to do things that he may have been directed to do or that he was potentially brainwashed by his older brother," Bailey said

[For the full story visit: NECN.com]

Nationally Recognized

As Seen On: 
  • Super Lawyer 2022
  • Avvo Rating 10
  • AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers 2022 - Brad Bailey
  • WGBH
  • 790 KABC
  • 7 WHDW
  • CNN
  • WCVB5 ABC
  • FOX 25
  • NBC Nightly News
  • NBC
  • iHeart Radio
  • 90.9 wbur
  • NPR
  • KTLA
  • Boston 25
  • New England Cable News

Free Consultation

See How Our Award-Winning Attorney Can Fight for You
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.