Tsarnaev Pleads Not Guilty to 30 Counts in Bombings
Appearing disheveled and fidgety, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev turned repeatedly to gaze into the crowd that packed a federal courtroom Wednesday to see him plead not guilty to 30 counts charging that he bombed the Boston Marathon.
Watching him were 30 victims of that April bombing and their families, and some people who said they were there to show support for the 19-year-old Russian.
Public defender Judy Clarke tried to enter a single “not guilty” plea on Tsarnaev’s behalf and have it apply to all counts in the indictment, but Judge Marianne Bowler said Tsarnaev would speak for himself and all the charges against him would be read aloud.
Flanked by his two attorneys, Tsarnaev said only two words — “not guilty” — and repeated them seven times as prosecutors read the charges. Each of the 30 counts could bring a life-in-prison sentence. Seventeen could make him eligible for the death penalty if the government decides to seek capital punishment.