BOSTON (KRON) — Early Tuesday morning, the jury started deliberations in the federal death penalty trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
The jury was asked to decide 30 charges against Tsarnaev, including using a weapon of mass destruction.
17 of those counts are death penalty counts.
Wednesday the jury reached a verdict; to convict Tsarnaev on all counts.
Lawyers and survivors of the bombing gathered in court to hear the verdict.
Monday, the jury heard closing arguments from both prosecutors and Tsarnaev’s lawyers, as well as instructions from presiding judge, George O’Toole, Jr.
Since Tsarnaev’s lawyers admitted that he was a part of a deadly attack, the jury was expected to convict.
The next part of the trial will be when those same jurors hear additional evidence in a sentencing phase.
That’s when the jury will decide whether Tzarnaev will be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty.
Prosecutors said Tsarnaev made a cold, calculated decision to place a bomb near the marathon finish line to punish America for its wars in Muslim countries.
Tsarnaev’s lawyers acknowledged he played a role in the bombings but said it was his older brother, Tamerlan, who planned the attack.
Three people were killed and more than 260 were injured when twin pressure-cooker bombs exploded near the marathon finish line on April 15, 2013.