Lawyers for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will begin their case Monday to keep him off death row.
After three days of emotional testimony from victims of the bombings, legal experts say the defense will try to humanize Tsarnaev. The defense has a lot to overcome, but all it has to do is convince one juror that Tsarnaev should not died for his terrible crime.
Attorneys for Tsarnaev must convince the jury to let the convicted Boston Marathon bomber live instead of putting him death.
The defense is expected to make an opening statement at which time the public may learn what witnesses they plan to call and what physical evidence they have - if any.
Acknowledging guilty and limiting cross-examination, experts say the defense team's strategy has been geared to this point in the trial. Potential testimony from Tsarneav relatives would be designed to help humanize the defendant, despite his terrible crime.
Tsarnaev's older brother, Tamerlin, has been portrayed as the mastermind of marathon bombings. NECN Legal Editor Randy Chapman says the defense may even try to tell the jury about Tamerlin's alleged involvement in a triple homicide in Waltham, Massachusetts, something the judge has so far prevented.
The jury's decision to put Tsarnaev to death must be unanimous. The defense is expected to take about two weeks to present its case.
