Federal Appeals Court Overturns Death Penalty For Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston on Friday overturned the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was convicted of setting off homemade pressure cooker bombs during the Boston Marathon in 2013 that killed three people and injured more than 200.

The appellate court upheld Tsarnaev’s conviction but ordered a lower court judge to hold new sentencing proceedings.

BREAKING: The federal appeals court in Boston has tossed the death sentence for Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

If the Justice Department wants to sentence him to death following today's order they will need to have a new trial just for the penalty phase.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) July 31, 2020

A federal jury found Tsarnaev guilty of all 30 charges against him in 2015, and determined he deserved the death penalty. On the day of his sentencing, Tsarnaev admitted he was guilty of the crimes.

“I am sorry for the lives I have taken, for the suffering that I have caused you, for the damage I have done, irreparable damage,” Tsarnaev said. “In case there is any doubt, I am guilty of this attack, along with my brother.”

The attack, planned by Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan, killed three people and injured 264 others on April 15, 2013. The brothers, who were of Chechen descent, claimed the attack was in response to U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The brothers had also intended to travel to Times Square in New York City for a bombing operation.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed following a shootout with police. His brother ran him over, trying to get away.

Iraq Afghanistan Terrorism