The verdict comes as no surprise as the defense team admitted their client was guilty and there was overwhelming evidence (including video footage) of the Tsarnaev brothers planting the bombs. Throughout the trial the defense mostly argued that Dzhokhar was cooereced into participating by his older brother Tamerlan.
Though Massachusetts does not have the death penalty, this case was tried in Federal Court, and Federal Law supersedes State law in Capital cases.... meaning the jury can sentence him to death.
The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in contemporary American culture. There are loud voices from the public calling for Tsarnaev's death while others are simply morally opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We should know by next week if this 21 year old terrorist will spend the next 50+ years in prison or if he will be executed.
Thoughts?