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Judge sets November trial date for accused Boston Marathon bomber

BOSTON, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Boston refused Wednesday to give Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's lawyers the months of preparation they sought, setting a November trial date.

U.S. District Judge George O'Toole scheduled the Boston Marathon bombing trial for Nov. 3, the Boston Globe reported. Tsarnaev's lawyers had requested the trial be delayed until September 2015.

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Tsarnaev, 20, could face the death penalty if he is convicted. Three people were killed and many others injured, including some who lost arms or legs, when two bombs exploded at the Marathon finish line on April 15 last year.

Marc Fucarile, who lost his right leg and spent more than three months in hospitals, was at Wednesday's hearing.

Tsarnaev's older brother, Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a confrontation with police. The brothers allegedly killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer as well.

Defense lawyers had argued they need an extended period to prepare for the trial and for the penalty phase if Tsarnaev is convicted. But O'Toole set a schedule more in line with what prosecutors requested.

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