Tsarnaev trial judge seals defense motion quoting juror questionnaires
A Boston judge has sealed a defense motion seeking to move the trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev because it reveals information from jury questionnaires.
U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. said in an order (PDF) on Thursday that it was improper to quote from the confidential questionnaires and to attribute the quotes to specific people identified by juror number, report the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.), the National Law Journal (sub. req.) and the Boston Globe.
The defense lawyers said 68 percent of the 1,373 prospective jurors believe Tsarnaev is guilty and 69 percent have a connection to the case.
The jurors’ comments included:
• “Why waste time on this guy you know he is guilty.”
• “For this case I think a public execution would be appropriate, preferable by bomb at the finish line of the marathon.”
O’Toole has rejected two prior defense motions to move the case.
Court officials say opening statements won’t begin as expected on Monday because of the lengthy juror selection process.
