The man accused of setting off a bomb at the Boston Marathon, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, has finally started trial in a federal courtroom in Boston.  I’m sure you remember that he and his older brother, Tamerlin, (who died shortly after the blast and a police man-hunt) are both implicated in the detonating of a pressure cooker filled with deadly shrapnel.

Here are 5 things to watch for as the trial progresses;

1.  Dshokhar Tsarnaev is in a boat-load of trouble–of course!!  But most defendants who are charged with crimes face one or two counts in a criminal proceeding.  He faces 30 charges including detonating a weapon of mass destruction.  That means he must defend against each and every count.  Even a conviction on one or a few of the charges could result in a long prison sentence or death.

2.  He’s guilty.  There’s probably not much question that he’ll be found guilty of some of the 30 charges as the Boston Bomber.  So why have a trial?  The prosecution has stated they will ask for the death penalty.  Even if Dzhokhar Tsarnaev wanted to plead guilty to some of the charges the prosecution won’t agree to allow that.  The only choice the defendant has is to go to trial and hope for the best.

3.  Can he get a fair trial?  The Boston Bomber is accused of committing the largest act of terrorism in the city’s history.  It probably touched everyone in the area. (Perhaps personally)  The defense asked for a “change of venue” (or the location of the trial) which is allowed under federal rules if the defendant can prove to the court he can’t get a fair trial because of publicity, for instance.  The judge denied the defense request.  Depending on what the prospective jurors say during the jury selection process, the trial may still be moved.

(Photo courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

4.  As a result, it’s going to be a long trial.  The jury selection has already started with 200 prospective jurors—which is about 265 more than usual.

5.  Massachusetts doesn’t have the death penalty—so how could Dzhokhar Tsarnaev face that?  He’s been charged in federal court, which normally also does not have the death penalty.  Except in cases where a weapon of mass destruction/terrorism has been used.  If found guilty of that crime, the accused Boston Bomber could be put to death.  However, that’s also a question the jury will have to decide if they convict him.

More about the trial as it unfolds in later posts:  A peek at the defense.  What will they do to defend a person who looks pretty guilty?