Japan Today Get your ticket to GaijinPot Expo 2024
world

Boston Marathon bomber sentenced to death

68 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2015 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

68 Comments
Login to comment

Good riddance.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

This degenerate killed an eight year old boy with a shrapnel bomb intended to kill and maim as many innocent people as possible.

As the boy lay dying his father had to leave his side to tend to his sister who had her leg blown away by the blast. Later, this willful murderer had no remorse or any sense of responsibility.

The death penalty has many advocates and detractors. Life has value in all of it's forms. The responsibility that comes with life also carries consequence. Killing a child, one of several deaths and scores maimed, also carries consequence.

In this case, no mercy, no second thought, no regret; this remorseless killer isn't eligible for compassion. He spent that the day he slaughtered a child for his own amusement.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Humanity won't miss him. I am waiting to see his ranting mother blaming Evonne else that's not part of her family. I don't feel sorry for her for her loss either.

Rolling Stone magazine may show sympathy like they glamorized him after he murdered 4 people and permanently changed the lives of scores of others.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

kcjapan, you condemn this man to death based on propaganda from the mainstream media. You forget to question the motive behind this awful act of terror. This person has not been given a fair trial, not least because that would expose those responsible for this obvious set up. scratch a little deeper, do some research on the actual evidence and circumstances. Do you think a police Lockdown of Boston can be arranged in a matter of minutes? It is the ability to question that makes as human

-30 ( +1 / -30 )

It is the ability to question that makes as human

Not to mention the ability to construct elaborate fantasies.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

"It is the ability to question that makes as human" - Criticalthinker May. 16, 2015 - 08:49AM JST

Slaughter of children is beyond the pale. The comment is a justification for wanton murder at the whim of the individual?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@Criticalthinker. You are speaking words of wisdom, which few people can understand. I used to be like Kcjapan, until I did research and saw the light. Believe me, it is totally different from what really happens. We just believe everything at face value. And for some reasons, the moderator just does not like it.

-16 ( +0 / -15 )

Good, let justice be served immediately.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Conspiracy theorists are out in force today, it seems.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

@kcja[am: Your comment refreshed the memory of the terror. Finally death sentence

2 ( +2 / -0 )

She admitted Tsarnaev’s guilt from the outset but said he was manipulated into taking part by his more radical elder brother.

Guilty until proven innocent by his defense it seems.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Why did it take 2 years for this sentence?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As an adult, this murderer tried the ploy of coercion as a defense and laughed and joked while human beings bleed to death on the sidewalks of Boston. Some hero here some find.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

kcjapan, Tiumvere you both fail to understand the meaning of Justice. The murder of innocent people is a heinous crime and like you I want to see those responsible punished severely. But this process can only be when the courts uphold their duty to allow a fair and open defense. Your faith that the system works for your benefit is misguided and a fantasy. The system is designed to keep you subservient while your rights are revoked, like in Boston when armed militia enter your home without your permission. But I suppose that would be ok for you? You are special and the police state cares for your rights

-10 ( +1 / -10 )

Guilty until proven innocent by his defense it seems.

Don't see how it could have been otherwise; he had already confessed, and there was no shortage of evidence. Only real question was whether he was culpable - and to what degree.

Why did it take 2 years for this sentence?

Government dotting all its "i"s and crossing its "t"s; there will almost certainly be an appeal, and the first thing to be questioned will be the refusal to change the venue. Uncle Sam wanted to be sure that there would be no procedural errors that could get this guy off the hook .

3 ( +3 / -0 )

this process can only be when the courts uphold their duty to allow a fair and open defense

You do realize that this guy admitted that he did it, right?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

He will be on "death row" for another 10 yrs thanks to automatic appeals in all death penalty cases.

It is cheaper to keep him in prison for life, but American society will not allow that. He needs to be killed to make people here feel like justice has been achieved.

The idea of a bullet in his brain tomorrow, just isn't the way this works. Death is an extraordinary measure of justice and "the system" tries to really be certain it is deserved. Certainly there have been innocent people put to death based on bad evidence, FBI lab lying, etc. In this case, I have no doubts this person did the crime and deserves the sentence.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"Whatsoever a man soweth, that also shall he reap"

1 ( +3 / -2 )

what you a really asking is why would he admit to something he didn't do? Yes he admitted to being involved, but not to being the mastermind. These two were on the informant payroll. You seem to lack knowledge of how the intelligence system works. If it were about saving lives they would have put them on trial for conspiring to carry out the act and there would have been no loss of life, but that wouldn't serve a purpose

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

he admitted to being involved, but not to being the mastermind.

You seem to think that should have some relevance. It shouldn't. Mastermind or not, as a participant he deserves what he gets.

8 ( +7 / -0 )

@Criticalthinker

our faith that the system works for your benefit is misguided and a fantasy.

As a fairly well-off white American male, if the system does not work for my benefit then who else?

Seriously, though, I understand the justice system is imperfect, and that the government does not always have justice as its primary or even secondary motivation. That said, I'm having serious trouble seeing things from your point of view.

Let's engage in some "critical thinking," shall we?

I am rather partial to Occam's Razor, which basically says that the simplest explanation for tends to be the best; looking at the case presented, it seems pretty straight forward:

1) Angry older brother gets radicalized 2) Older brother recruits younger brother. 3) Brothers decide to bomb famous local event. 4) Brothers make simple pressure cooker bombs with nails and improvised explosives. 5) Brothers bomb event, killing or maiming hundreds, 6) City goes into lockdown as while police search for suspects 7) Suspects get into shoot out with police; older brother killed 8) Wounded younger brother flees; is captured; confesses.

Nothing in the above is particularly difficult to believe, in my estimation. What is it, exactly, you think that I don't know? The only thing you have mentioned so far is that you don't believe it was possible to "lockdown" the city as quickly as they did. I assume from this you think they had advanced knowledge of the bombing and this was some sort of inside job by the government. But, if that is the case, you explanation is needlessly complex.

Do you imagine that a major American city would not have an emergency plan for dealing with a terrorist attack post 9/11?

Do you imagine that Boston would not have an emergency plan for dealing with a terrorist attack on the Boston Marathon, a world-famous international event?

Do you imagine that Police were not already out in force the day of the Marathon to provide security, and could not easily have been mobilized?

We could go on an talk about what you imagine the government had to gain from bombing the marathon, and why that line of thinking is facile and unconvincing, but I don't really feel the need to.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

He was given everything & returned death to the people who allowed his family refugee status as well as freedom to live like a man. Evil to the core,this one & a soon to be gone Coward.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"what you a really asking is why would he admit to something he didn't do?" Criticalthinker May. 16, 2015 - 09:46AM JST

Here the reader sees a comment making conversation with itself.

The murderous bomber slaughtered and some have insight hidden from the court? Why not make the counter claim clear? A patsy? A remorseless killer? A fictions claim of conspiracy? Which is it?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes he admitted to being involved, but not to being the mastermind.

To echo Strangerland, why do you feel this makes a difference? The basic idea behind a conspiracy charge is that the "right hand" does not have to know what the "left hand" is doing for both to be guilty of a crime. But Tsarnaev wasn't charged as a conspirator or even an accomplice, he was a straight-up perpetrator.

If two men murder my brother, does it really matter to me which one came up with the idea in the first place? Or which pulled the actual trigger? I'm inclined to think they are both responsible.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

yes intent always makes a difference. im off shopping nice discussion

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

yes intent always makes a difference. im off shopping nice discussion

His intent was to plant a bomb to injure and kill.

5 ( +5 / -1 )

yes intent always makes a difference. im off shopping nice discussion

The jury, having found Tsarnaev guilty, was ask whether or not to recommend the death penalty. That is a binary choice. Assuming procedure was followed, the jury would have taken into account Tsarnaev's intent, his motive, as well as a host of mitigating and aggravating circumstances. In this particular case, the Judge asked the jury to rule on a long list of factual findings in making its decision - I'm told it took more than 20 minutes to read all of them. I'm not sure why you seem to think the Jury ignored the defendant's intent; it does not sound like they did to me.

Enjoy your shopping.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Can't believe there are people defending this murderer who killed a 8-year-old boy in front of his father. What kind of human being thinks this can be explained??

0 ( +3 / -4 )

Its sad to see this young mans life has come to this.There is no pleasure in doing Evil.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So when will Obama and Bush be put on trial for their terror actions? Oh! That's right, we're the good guys. When we murder women and children it's for a good cause.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

The purposes of laws and punishments are to protect society from criminals. The details are unpleasant to contemplate, but if we consider matters in terms of the basics, justice will have been done by removing Tsarnaev from society. However given the disposition of his jihadist comrades-in-arms, it's possible to contemplate some sort of spectacular hostage situation aimed at getting him released. (Or, to extract "revenge" after he's executed.) There's a fairly good chance all this bad karma will continue for quite some time.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is 2015 and it will be 2055 before there is even a possibility of execution. His lawyers at public expense will file papers year after year in order to save him? No, in order to keep their jobs.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

No, in order to keep their jobs.

Don't insult his defense lawyers. I'm sure they are doing their utmost for him.

Boston.. where cheating and dishonesty are tolerated and rewarded.

And don't insult Boston. This is a great city, full of great people.

Sacrificial lambs

Your "sacrificial lamb" went to a marathon and blew off people's legs; that's a special kind of of cruelty. No sympathy.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What a waste of precious life! As mentioned above, every life has responsibility. You cannot murder others and expect leniency. This freak deserves capital punishment.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Tsarnaev attorneys chicanery, insinuated that his older brother Tamerlan had been 'approached' or 'encouraged' by the FBI to be an informant into gathering information regarding activities associated within the Chechen and Muslim community. Speculative bluff and cunning to mitigate guilt to evade being strapped to a gurney and pumped full of potassium chloride. For the sake of the victims sooner rather than later.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A shocking tragedy that 21-year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be sentenced to death by lethal injection. I won't pretend that the emotional impact of over 200 laying wounded, limbs torn off as a result of shrapnel filled explosives doesn't fill me seething with revenge. Retribution.is hardly justice I know.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Too bad Boston is not in China where he would already be executed and the cost of the bullet sent to his family for repayment. I try to be politically and religiously tolerant but that's a tough road to walk because those two areas have been the sources for most of humanity's sufferings. The intolerant Muslims need to stay in their part of the world.

Probly them dirty JEWS too, eh, Hawkeye!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Boo hoo...life is so special...

Really? Cuz we make billions of em a year...not so hard. And since we do value life there are many of us who place that value on those who are not a danger to the life and well being of the rest of us. He ADMITTED to it. it doesn't matter if he was the kingpin. He could have walked away at any time but killing kids was ok to him for some "let's get America" BS. I for one don't want to pay for his upkeep and health care in prison. He will never be of any use for the rest of us and he is un-repentant. He murdered not in a act of rage or revenge on someone who for example..raped a loved one, or killed a friend: but innocent passersby who may have helped him in his time of need. He gave THEIR life zero value and helped to take it. For nothing. Thank you jury. Please lets end it soon. I'd rather lock up those who rob and steal and help them learn a trade to enter society for the better. (In theory). People like this guy.....no remorse. You may be against the death penalty..and that is fine. Because the EU doesn't like it means nothing. Those EU arguments on everything vs the US mean as much to us as a pile of do mess. But we still love you. you should still love us. But guess what? He is a dead man walking...good riddance. If there is an afterlife I pray for his soul to find salvation but his human trip is not of value to our society.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Your right to life should be dependent if you give as much right for others to live as you expect any "right to life" for yourself.

I will shed no tears for Tsarnaev.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I read a item concerning isolation. If you place a person in a pitch dark room and with total isolation, the person go insane after a week. with in a months he will be dead. Not from lack of food but due the the injury the person inflect on himself. This method should be employed. Why have some poor person kill him weather it be hanging, firing squad or injection of some poison. Allow him to do himself in.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Zichi: Yes: Murdering, killing, executing just promotes more murdering, killing and executing regardless of crime or innocence etc. Thou shall not kill applied absolutely may just work in the future. Capital punishment hasn't and never will. All EU countries and 18 USA states recognize this. I heard on some other news that the jury was selected. Only people who supported the death penalty were allowed to be on it. If this is true it was pointless having a jury wasn't it? It is possible that during a life sentence he can contribute intellectually to preventing other people being led down the same path as he was. Like Myra Hindley. Ironically, if you are thinking about the cost, the death sentence will more than likely cost much more than a life sentence even if he lives to a very old age. (There will be countless appeals and further court cases for years to come.)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Thou shall not kill applied absolutely may just work in the future. Capital punishment hasn't and never will. All EU countries and 18 USA states recognize this. I heard on some other news that the jury was selected. Only people who supported the death penalty were allowed to be on it. If this is true it was pointless having a jury wasn't it?

Ohay! What's the namathat strange marsupial?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Boston is overwhelmingly anti-death penalty (heck, Massachusetts is not a death penalty state), but this was a federal (not a state) criminal trial and local jurors still gave Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the death sentence (just goes to show how bad it has to be in order for Bostonians to do that).

All death sentences get automatic appeal. It'd be many years before all the appeals are exhausted and the death sentece carried out.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@reiumvere And don't insult Boston. This is a great city, full of great people.

You forgot to mention Boston Red Sox I see a majority of comment writers are not supporting action of killing innocent people randomly.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I heard on some other news that the jury was selected. Only people who supported the death penalty were allowed to be on it. If this is true it was pointless having a jury wasn't it?

No, only that potential jurors have to be open to the death penalty. Those who are not open to the death penalty are automatically rejected as potential jurors - lawyers from both plaintiff and defense have to agree on which jurors get selected (obviously in a death penalty sentencing case, the plaintiffs would immediately reject any potential juror who is not open to the death penalty).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A horrendous crime inflicting death and injury on innocent victims but no matter how horrendous the crime the death penalty can never be justified.

How can you justify a punishment that is not commensurate to the crime? Tsarnaev murdered numerous people.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Funny how the media hid his faith of choice (which was, in turn, the motivation behind the attack) until much later in the trial...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I don't know whats sadder; the sad, pathetic life of these 2 loser brothers or the sad, pathetic life of the conspiracy theorist loons who can't deal with life in general.

Moon landings, 9/11, etc, these weak-minded knuckleheads are dissatisfied with their own failed lives so much they blame the govt for their own miserable lives

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@John-SanMAY. 16, 2015 - 06:48PM JST I read a item concerning isolation. If you place a person in a pitch dark room and with total isolation, the person go insane after a week. with in a months he will be dead. Not from lack of food but due the the injury the person inflect on himself. This method should be employed. Why have some poor person kill him weather it be hanging, firing squad or injection of some poison. Allow him to do himself in

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

You forgot he is in a jail in USA. His family members and defense attorney can visit him. front of the cell isline of bars. There issahower area and their dirty clothes, there is nopolastic bags. To prevent suicide. Too much cost to make dark rooms that just white walls to separate cells. Don't write something else that has nothing to do with jails in USA . .

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Boston Marathon bomber sentenced to death.

Three cheers. Boston Strong! Please say hello to your brother for me when you get to "paradise".

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

"Don't insult his defense lawyers. I'm sure they are doing their utmost for him". Yes, to keep this case going and get a paycheck. If it were a federal case like Oklahoma, he would be gone in a year.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Aren't his defense lawyers, public? Oklahoma too?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I suppose he will be seen as a martyr now by other terrorists. Not good. I would have preferred to see him spend the rest of his long life locked up in a prison cell for 23 hours a day, every day, until he goes mad and/or dies. Death is too good for him, particularly since it's what he really wants, I expect.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Boston is overwhelmingly anti-death penalty (heck, Massachusetts is not a death penalty state), but this was a federal (not a state) criminal trial and local jurors still gave Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the death sentence (just goes to show how bad it has to be in order for Bostonians to do that).

Having lived many years in Boston, I know my loving Bostonians more than many posters here. While the comment above might be true, I think it is also a sign of how fashion liberals quickly bend their policy as soon as an issue becomes their own leaving a discussion table.

I was in NY when 9/11 took place and I will never forget the atmosphere of sudden, intense patriotism steaming anger and hate. I am not opposed to it, I understand it. But I hope they are not the same "anti-war," "anti-Abe" Article 9 believers who are here on JT saying "they are concerned Japan's rising nationalism."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My only complaint is that his death may not happen for decades to come and after multiple appeals. He's a waste of life and I hope an incident of "prison justice" occurs in order to save the U.S. taxpayers money.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@jeff: defence attorneys have 10 days to appeal. Automatic. Then new defence attorneys are assigned. The parents of 6 years old want ti get over but more likely drugged for years if appealed like you explained

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Smoke and mirrors. He is not going to die, to the contrary, he will live a long time in prison, at taxpayers expense, and create many more radical converts there.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Here is a solid argument for proponents of the death penalty. Tsarnaev certainly deserves to be put to death. At the same time, the death penalty almost seems to good for him.

Also, I think his remains should be dumped in the sea like UBL and not allowed to leave the country to a shrine where some nut jobs would pay their respects for what he did.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If they could have killed 500 people they would have. No forgiveness for this.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

His defense attotneys will have to appeal. Then pictures of 6 years old childa and him in close range, testimony of parents, etc and of cause death sentence. Then automatic appeal procedire. another death penalty aopeal on and on until he dies comfortably in his cell. .........

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Here is a solid argument for proponents of the death penalty. Tsarnaev certainly deserves to be put to death. At the same time, the death penalty almost seems to good for him.

Actually the punishment fits the crime perfectly. He is plenty good enough for the death penalty and has not even contested his guilt.

Also, I think his remains should be dumped in the sea like UBL and not allowed to leave the country to a shrine where some nut jobs would pay their respects for what he did.

I imagine most Islamist could care less where he is interred.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Oh the hypocrisy.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

he will live a long time in prison, at taxpayers expense, and create many more radical converts there.

No, he'll be at SuperMax - solitary confinement

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A horrendous crime inflicting death and injury on innocent victims but no matter how horrendous the crime the death penalty can never be justified.

Really? Lets say you have a convicted criminal who is a grave threat to the rest of society and due to whatever circumstances you do not have the facilities and or human resources to hold/contain this person adequately and as a result the prisoner's escape is highly likely. One could argue that in such a scenario the death penalty could very well be justified.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Whatever message you "think" this sends out, different people will interpret it differently. Many will get the idea that killing is just punishment for wrongs, real or perceived. Some will go on to try that out in their own lives. This is justifying vengeance, whether you like that label or not. You cannot call it punishment, because is meant to teach a person a lesson. The dead learn no lessons.

Back to vengeance: Remember Timothy McVeigh? He bombed that FBI building in Oklahoma. Why? In vengeance for Ruby Ridge and the slaughter in Waco at the Branch Davidian community. Vengeance begets vengeance, and America seems intent on ensuring the cycle continues.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I hope this young, handsome man BURNS IN HELL!!! and yes for all of ETERNITY!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites