Jury to decide if Tsarnaev lives or dies

BOSTON (AP) – The guilt phase of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv) trial was considered a slam dunk for prosecutors, especially after his lawyer admitted he participated in the deadly 2013 attack.

But the outcome of the second phase of the trial is more difficult to predict. Beginning Tuesday, the same jury that convicted Tsarnaev will hear evidence to decide his punishment: life in prison or the death penalty.

Public opinion polls have shown that a majority of Boston-area residents are opposed to the death penalty for Tsarnaev. Several bombing victims have said recently that they oppose the death penalty for Tsarnaev, including the parents of an 8-year-old boy who was killed.

Jurors told the judge they were willing to give consideration to both punishments.