Boston Marathon Bombing Trial: Prosecution Rests Its Case in Penalty Phase

Some progress is being made in the Boston Marathon bombing trial as federal prosecutors in the penalty phase of the trial rested their case on Thursday, April 23.

The defense is expected to begin presenting its witnesses Monday.

Prosecution will get a chance for rebuttal after the defense presents its case.

Admitted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was convicted earlier this month of all 30 charges against him. Three people were killed and more than 260 others were wounded when twin bombs exploded at the 2013 marathon.

A jury must decide whether to sentence Tsarnaev to life in prison or to death.

On Thursday, a video showing the mother of 8-year-old Martin Richard crouched over him and resting her head on his chest as he lay dying was shown to the jury.

Steve Woolfenden, a man who was lying on the pavement next to Martin, recounted losing his left leg. Also testifying Thursday was Heather Abbott, whose left leg was amputated after the bombing.

More Patch coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing trial is below:

The penalty phase of the Boston Marathon bombing trial, which began on Tuesday, April 21, consisted of a handful of witness testimonies and graphic photographs.

Federal prosecutors showed the jury an image, labeled as Exhibit #1595, which shows convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev giving the middle finger to a security camera at the courthouse under three months after the blasts.

Judge O’Toole advised jurors Tuesday not to sentence based on what they think the victims’ families might want.

“This is your decision alone,” he said. “You must not consider the defendant’s or the victims’ race, color, religious beliefs, national origin or sex.”

Debate over whether Tsarnaev should get the death penalty intensified recently after the parents of Martin Richard, an 8-year-old boy who was killed in the bombings, urged federal authorities to consider taking death off the table. The Richard family prefers Tsarnaev spends the rest of his life in prison and gives up his rights to appeal.

“We know that the government has its reasons for seeking the death penalty, but the continued pursuit of that punishment could bring years of appeals and prolong reliving the most painful day of our lives,” Bill and Denise Richard said in a statement to The Boston Globe last week.

Bombing survivor Celeste Corcoran, who has two prosthetic legs because of the blasts, was called to the stand Tuesday. She attended the 2013 race to support her sister who was running in the event. Concoran’s daughter Sydney testified in the first phase of the trial.

Concoran and her family ended up moving as close to the finish line as they could to see her sister cross. They reached the front of Marathon Sports.

After hearing this part of Corcoran’s recollection, the jury was shown a photo of the family standing in the crowd moments before the explosions.

Corcoran described in horrific detail the pain and anxiety she endured immediately after the blasts. After being transported to Boston Medical Center and having surgery to amputate both of her legs, Concoran found out her daughter Sydney was at the same facility. The two shared a hospital room during their respective recovery processes.

Survivor Gillian Reny and William Campbell, III, brother of victim Krystle Campbell, were the next two to testify. The Campbell siblings were humanized through childhood photographs shown to the jury. William Campbell, Jr., Krystle’s father, was called to the stand after his son. He reminisced about his relationship with Krystle.

Nicole Gross, a visitor from Maryland, was in Boston to support her mother who was running in the event. She recounted her own injuries and that of her family’s.

Photo Credit: WHDH, 7-News