BOSTON — The judge in the trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has told the first group of prospective jurors to face questioning that they will decide whether Tsarnaev lives or dies.
Judge George O'Toole Jr. sounded a somber tone as he gave initial instructions to a group of about 20 potential jurors who will be questioned individually.
The judge says that if the jury convicts Tsarnaev of one of the capital crimes he is charged with, jurors must then decide if he should get the death penalty or life in prison.
Tsarnaev is accused in the deadly 2013 marathon bombing. Twin bombs placed near the finish line killed three people and injured more than 260.