Boston Marathon bombing victim Erika Brannock, foreground left, and her mother Carol Downing, foreground right, walk past demonstrators outside federal court in Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. AP
BOSTON— The latest on the formal sentencing of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (all times in US):
11:55 a.m. (EDT)
Several victims of the Boston Marathon attack have chastised bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) for coming to the United States as an immigrant, enjoying the benefits of living here and then attacking U.S. citizens.
An older sister of a slain Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer addressed Tsarnaev on Wednesday during his sentencing hearing. He is due to be formally sentenced to death by a judge.
Jennifer Rogers called Tsarnaev a “leech abusing the privilege of American freedom.” She says Tsarnaev “spit in the face of the American dream.”
Rogers’ brother, Sean Collier, was fatally shot by the Tsarnaev brothers as authorities closed in on them three days after the bombings.
11:35 a.m. (EDT)
Several victims of the Boston Marathon attack who have chosen to speak at the bomber’s sentencing hearing are describing psychological issues invisible to the world but all too real and debilitating to them.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) is scheduled to be formally sentenced Wednesday to death. But before that, survivors and loved ones of the victims are given a chance to address him.
A 45-year-old family physician from Birmingham, Alabama, says he finished running his first Boston Marathon seconds before the first bomb exploded. Scott Weisberg says he suffered hearing loss and a traumatic brain injury.
He says his once-successful medical practice is now struggling and he is getting divorced because his spouse can’t understand the trauma he experienced.
11:10 a.m. (EDT)
A survivor of the Boston Marathon attack says he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder but is grateful he found a way to forgive bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv).
Henry Borgard was a 21-year-old Suffolk University student walking to his dorm when he heard the explosions.
He said at Tsarnaev’s sentencing hearing Wednesday that he suffered minor physical injuries but now has severe anxiety and nightmares and has been diagnosed with PTSD.
Borgard says, “I know how fear feels. I know how it feels when it courses through your veins and your blood gets cold.”
He says he is grateful to be alive and to be recovering from his psychological injuries.
But Borgard says he is most grateful that he was able to forgive Tsarnaev despite everything he did.
10:25 a.m. (EDT)
The father of the youngest person killed in the Boston Marathon bombing says Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) could have chosen not to place his bomb behind a
Boston Marathon bombing survivor Rebekah Gregory, second from right, walks towards the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. AP
group of children.
Bill Richard is the father of 8-year-old Martin Richard, who was one of three people killed at the 2013 marathon. He addressed Tsarnaev on Wednesday as his wife, Denise, stood behind him.
Richard says Tsarnaev could have changed his mind that morning and “walked away with a minimal sense of humanity.”
But, Richard says, Tsarnaev “chose to accompany his brother and participate in this hate.”
Richard says his family has chosen love, kindness and peace. He says: “That is what makes us different than him.”
The Richards’ young daughter, Jane, also lost a leg in the bombing.
10:15 a.m. (EDT)
The best friend of a woman killed at the 2013 Boston Marathon has urged bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) to show remorse to discourage other jihadists from killing people in similar attacks.
Karen Rand McWatters is a friend of Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old who was one of three people killed in the bombings.
McWatters says: “You can save them from these cowardly acts if you really have an ounce of regret or remorse.”
McWatters was with Campbell at the marathon and lost a leg in the explosions.
She told Tsarnaev that he “stood there watching children play and still chose to leave his weapon of mass destruction behind those children as he walked away.”
She says he must not have a soul to be able to do something like that.
10 a.m. (EDT)
The mother of a woman killed in the Boston Marathon attack has told bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) that what he did was “disgusting.”
Patricia Campbell was the first person to give a victim impact statement Wednesday at Tsarnaev’s formal sentencing. She is the mother of Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant manager from Medford, Massachusetts, who was one of three people killed in the bombings.
Patricia Campbell looked across the room at Tsarnaev and spoke directly to him. He was seated about 20 feet away and looked down as she spoke.
She says: “What you did to my daughter is disgusting.” She also said she thinks the jury did the right thing by sentencing him to death.
9:45 a.m. (EDT)
Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) has entered the courtroom ahead of a hearing where he will formally be sentenced to death.
The 21-year-old Tsarnaev wore a dark sports jacket with a collared shirt and no tie. His beard is fuller than the goatee he sported during the trial. He appeared impassive as he chatted with his lawyers.
The Boston police commissioner and the parents of the youngest bombing victim were also in the courtroom Wednesday.
Three people died and more than 260 others were injured when twin bombs exploded at the finish line of the 2013 marathon.
In May, a federal jury condemned Tsarnaev to die for the bombings.
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