Boston Bomb Accused 'Had Murder In His Heart'

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By Sky News US Team

Boston marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev "had murder in his heart" when he placed a bomb in the deadly attack, a prosecutor has said.

In the hotly anticipated trial's opening statements on Wednesday, federal prosecutors said the accused had wanted to "tear people apart and create a bloody spectacle".

Tsarnaev, 21, wearing a white shirt without tie and blazer, stared straight ahead as the case against him was laid out at the US District Court in Boston, where security was tight.

He faces 30 charges in connection with the double bombing near the marathon finish line on 15 April 2013, which killed three people and injured 264 others.

Tsarnaev, who has pleaded not guilty, is also charged in the killing of a police officer days after the attacks.

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Gallery: Boston Bombings Trial: Who's Who

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, is on trial in the Boston Marathon bombing. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. He denies wrongdoing

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was killed in a shoot-out with police days after bombings on 15 April 2013

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Tamerlan Tsarnaev's widow, Katherine Russell, is under investigation and could face charges

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Robel Phillipos, a friend of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was found guilty of lying to investigators

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Dias Kadyrbayev (L) has admitted removing evidence of the deadly attack

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Victims of the attack were in court, including dancer Heather Abbott and Marc Fucarile, both of whom lost legs in the blasts.

The parents of the youngest victim, eight-year-old Martin Richard, were also present for Wednesday's proceedings.

Assistant US Attorney William Weinreb described how the defendant and his 26-year-old brother carried out the attack to punish the US for military actions in Muslim countries.

"The defendant wasn't there to watch the race," said Mr Weinreb. "He had a backpack over his shoulder and inside that backpack was a homemade bomb.

"It was the type of bomb favoured by terrorists because it is designed to tear people apart and create a bloody spectacle.

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The new photos show Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as he surrenders. Warning: This gallery contains graphic images

Tsarnaev has a bloodied skull and appears disoriented at times. The pictures were taken by state police officer Sergeant Sean Murphy

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"He pretended to be a spectator, but he had murder in his heart."

The prosecutor added: "He believed that he was a soldier in a holy war against Americans."

The defence is expected to argue that Tsarnaev had a difficult childhood and was heavily influenced by his elder brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a shoot-out with police three days after the attack. His widow is under investigation and could face charges related to the bombings, US media report.

The younger Tsarnaev was found four days after the bombings hiding in a boat parked in the backyard of a home in nearby Watertown.

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Gallery: In Pictures: Boston Marathon Bombs

Two explosions have been reported at the finish line

The bombings on 15 April 2013 killed three people and injured more than 260

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The prosecution believes he was a willing, active participant in the attacks.

A panel of 10 women and eight men, all white, will decide whether Tsarnaev is guilty.

They will determine whether to sentence him to death or life in prison without possibility of parole.

It took two months to select the jury from a pool of 1,200 people, as winter weather and repeated attempts by the defence to have the trial moved out of state slowed the process.

Many potential jurors were dismissed because they had personal connections with bombings.

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