Tsarnaev wants some charges dropped

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is seen in this handout image provided by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. File picture: FBI

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is seen in this handout image provided by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. File picture: FBI

Published Apr 16, 2014

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Boston - Lawyers for the Boston Marathon bombing suspect are headed to court on Wednesday to ask a judge to dismiss some of the charges against him and to ease restrictions on him in prison.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has pleaded not guilty to a 30-count federal indictment charging him in twin explosions at last year's marathon. The blasts killed three people and injured more than 260.

Tsarnaev's lawyers say many of the charges are redundant and could sway jurors who will weigh whether he's guilty and if so, whether to sentence him to death.

US District Judge George O'Toole Jr is scheduled to hear arguments on Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan, built two pressure-cooker bombs and placed them near the finish line. Tamerlan Tsarnaev died following a shootout with police. - Sapa-AP

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