Boston Marathon Trial Judge: 'Phase Two is Likely to Take About Four Weeks'

Photo: WHDH

As to prevent the Boston Marathon bombing trial from eclipsing this year’s race, the penalty phase won’t begin until Tuesday, April 21, a day after the 2015 event.

While court time is also being avoided on April 15, the two-year anniversary of the tragedy, a briefing was carried out the day before to review the April 8 verdict of admitted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Tsarnaev was found guilty on 30 counts of helping to orchestrate and carry out the blasts that killed three people and wounded another 260 people on April 15, 2013.

The jury was reminded that they will return on April 21 for opening statements. Judge O’Toole, who warned jurors not to attend the 2015 Boston Marathon, anticipates that the penalty phase of the trial will take about four weeks to complete.

>>> See also: Death Penalty Phase of Tsarnaev Trial to Begin on April 21