Bedside charges for suspect

BOSTON: Prosecutors formally charged Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with the bombings at the Boston Marathon in a hearing held yesterday in his hospital room, accusing him of crimes that carry the possibility of the death penalty.

The 19-year-old ethnic Chechen was charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and with malicious destruction of property resulting in death. Each count carries the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted.

More chargeswere likely, legal experts said.

According to a transcript of the bedside legal proceeding, the teenager, mostly unable to speak due to his injuries, nodded when asked if he could answer questions and could follow what was happening. He was also read his constitutional rights.

When asked if he could afford a lawyer, Tsarnaev said “No”. Three public defenders, appointed by the court, were in the room.

A sworn FBI statement in support of the criminal complaint revealed the recollection of a man whose car was allegedly hijacked by the brothers while they tried to escape on Thursday night.

“Did you hear about the Boston explosion?” one of the brothers is said to have told the hijack victim. “I did that.”

Yesterday Boston-area hospitals were still treating at least 48 people, with at least two listed in critical condition.

“Although our investigation is ongoing, today’s charges bring a successful end to a tragic week for the city of Boston, and for our country,” US attorney-general Eric Holder said.

In choosing the civilian justice system, US authorities opted against treating Tsarnaev, a naturalised US citizen, as an enemy combatant. – Reuters