Advertisement

Death penalty to be discussed for Boston Marathon suspect

BOSTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors said they would decide by Oct. 31 if they would recommend Boston Marathon bombings suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev be put to death if convicted.

The death penalty will be discussed Monday between federal prosecutors and Tsarnaev's defense team at Tsarnaev's status conference before U.S. District Court Judge George A. O'Toole Jr., the Boston Herald reported.

Advertisement

Tsarnaev, who is being held without bail, will not attend the conference.

Tsarnaev, 20, pleaded not guilty in July to charges he helped his slain brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev plant two bombs near the marathon's race finish line, killing three and injuring more than 260 others before killing Massachusetts Institute of Technology policeman Sean Collier.

Tsarnaev faces 30 charges, 17 that could result in the death penalty.

Prosecutors said they've been trying unsuccessfully to get the defense team's "input on the death penalty authorization decision" since July, the Herald said.

Latest Headlines